"Fulani herdsmen carry only sticks and machete to cut grass," says President Buhari

Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari has exonerated the Fulani herdsmen from several killings that are allegedly masterminded by herdsmen.

Buhari, while speaking during Arise TV programme on Thursday, said herders that are armed with sophisticated weapons to kill people in rural communities are not from Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Fulanis look identical and have similar culture to those of Mauritania and Central African Republic which makes it difficult for people to differentiate them.

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Buhari, also didn’t deny the fact that he himself is a born Fulani man.

He said:

“The problem is trying to understand the culture of cattle rearers. There is a culture of the Fulanis. So, the government of Benue said I’m not disciplining the cattle rearers because I’m one of them.
“I cannot refuse to say I’m not one of them but he’s being very unfair to me and I told him that the Nigerian cattle rearers are not carrying anything more than a stick, sometimes a machete to cut trees and give to animals.
“But those with sophisticated weapons, with Ak-47, are from the Sahel area. They are Fulani people from Mauritania, Central Republic Africa. They look the same, so they will think they are Nigerians.
“But, I assure you, we are trying to resuscitate these cattle routes, grazing areas and make them accountable.”