Reverend Samson Ayokunle, the president of the Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN) has said that the ”hatred” the Fulani herdsmen suffer
now from Nigerians began when some elements in their group became
violent and started killing people.
Ayokunle said this when he spoke at a press conference organised by
the Christian body in Abuja on Thursday July 18th. According to
Ayokunle, prior to this present times, herdsmen lived peacefully in
members of other communities they took their cattle to graze in and even
went as far as marrying in some of these communities. He noted that
people began to see them in a different light when they started killing
”innocent” people. The clergyman stated that the only way herdsmen can
regain the trust Nigerians had for them is to call themselves to order
and stop being violent and killing people.
“If there was any enemy for any Fulani man, the Fulani man created
the enemy for himself. They have been living peacefully for many years
in our various communities, till the killing issues started. In those
days, our children married them, they married our children, but when
they became too violent and started carrying AK-47, killing people, what
type of play is that? That’s a dangerous play.We can no longer think we are friends with that type of play. It’s
too dangerous. So let them call their people to order and ensure that
they remove the enmity they have created around an average Fulani
person.” he said