National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Mr Bello Badejo, on Thursday raised the alarm that politicians had hijacked the Fulani herdsmen/farmers’ crisis.

He added that politicians wanted to use it as the 2019 campaign agenda.

At a news conference in Kano, Badejo said he was disturbed that politicians were using the face-off to create a division in the minds of the people by labelling Fulani herdsmen as killers.

He said, ‘’Politicians are interfering in the Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis. They are trying to create a division. Politicians are punishing farmers and Fulani cattle herdsmen because they want to use the face-off as a basis for 2019 politics.’’

He said the Fulani were peace-loving people, adding that to label them as terrorists carrying AK-47 rifles to kill was unfair.

He said Fulani worldwide were engaged only in cattle rearing and nothing else.

‘‘They plan to create 5,000 hectares of land to be used as cattle colonies in some states. It is a welcome idea, but if the Benue State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, had agreed to create the proposed cattle colonies, rather than the grazing law he enacted, it would have not degenerated into the current controversy.

“Ortom’s law is not favourable to the Fulani; that is why we are vehemently opposed to it. So, the proposed colony will serve as an enduring solution to the lingering Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis. We are in support of the Federal Government’s agenda to create the colonies.’’

The Mayetti boss called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to establish the truth as to who was attacking who and prosecute whoever was found guilty.

He said, ‘‘Only desperate politicians are opposed to the creation of cattle colonies for Fulani herdsmen. These issues have been politicised. Anyone armed with AK-47 rifle cannot be rearing cows; such a person must be an armed robber disguising as a Fulani herdsman.

He added that if any Fulani man invaded any farm; he should be arrested and cautioned “rather than blowing it out of proportion. Poor handling of killings will trigger war”.

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