A coalition of pastoralist organisations in Nigeria alleges that hundreds of pastoralists have been killed in recent months and calls for independent investigations, relief for displaced families and stronger protection against ethnic profiling.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to convene a national dialogue to address persistent farmer-herder conflicts, alleging that hundreds of pastoralists have been killed in attacks across several states in recent months.
The groups also condemned what they described as the widespread association of Fulani pastoralists with banditry, kidnapping and terrorism, warning that ethnic stereotyping exposes innocent community members to violence, discrimination and unlawful punishment.
The coalition presented its demands at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, urging the Federal Government to pursue a comprehensive approach that combines security, justice, reconciliation and sustainable livestock development.
Dr Huseini Buzaye, president of the Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, signed the statement on behalf of the Confederation of Pastoralist Non-Governmental Organisations. He said the coalition represents “millions of Nigerian pastoralists from all 36 states and FCT” through more than 30 associations.
The association’s General Secretary, Abdullahi Ardo, delivered the prepared address, highlighting concerns over the treatment of Fulani pastoralists in public discourse and security operations.
“For too long, the word ‘Fulani Pastoralist’ has been profiled and criminalized as synonymous with banditry, kidnapping and terrorism”.
The coalition argued that such generalisations had contributed to hostility against pastoralist communities, including people with no links to criminal activity.
It said the stereotyping “has given impetus to jungle justice, extrajudicial killings, and hate speech against innocent pastoralists, including women and children who have no connection to crime.”
Emphasising the need to distinguish criminal responsibility from ethnic identity, the organisations declared: “Criminals are criminals and have no tribe,”
They called on the media and security agencies to abandon collective suspicion based on ethnicity and instead pursue individuals suspected of wrongdoing through established legal procedures.
The groups urged authorities to “stop ethnic profiling but arrest and prosecute criminals as individuals, not as an ethnic group”, they added.
Coalition alleges widespread attacks on pastoralist communities
The organisations reported that pastoralist communities had suffered deadly attacks in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria over the past few months.
According to the coalition, the alleged victims included women, children and older people. It also claimed that thousands of cattle had been stolen or killed and entire pastoralist settlements, commonly known as Rugas, had been destroyed by fire.
Expressing frustration over what it described as inadequate public attention to the incidents, the statement said: “These killings are not reported. There is no national outrage. There is no compensation. There is no justice,”
The coalition demanded an independent investigation into the alleged killings, calling for accountability and measures to prevent further attacks.
It also appealed to the Federal Government to mobilise humanitarian assistance for pastoralists displaced by violence.
Specifically, the groups asked the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons to distribute relief supplies to affected families “as it does for other communities”.
They further called on security agencies to ensure that pastoralists receive equal protection under Nigerian law, urging the authorities to safeguard them “as Nigerian citizens under Section 14 and Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.”
Groups seek stronger support for livestock development
Beyond their security concerns, the pastoralist organisations pressed the Federal Government to strengthen policies and funding for the livestock sector.
They praised Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, describing the move as “a historic decision that gave us hope after 60 years of agitation.”
However, the coalition expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry’s implementation, alleging that it “remains largely unfunded and without a clear operational framework” years after its creation.
The groups called for the ministry to expand its presence in pastoralist communities and translate its mandate into practical support for livestock farmers.
They also urged the President and the National Assembly to dedicate at least 30 per cent of the agricultural budget to the ministry.
Another major demand was the formal gazetting and protection of Nigeria’s 417 grazing reserves, which the coalition believes could help address disputes over access to land and grazing resources.
The organisations also advocated the establishment of pilot ranches and fodder-production projects across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Making a case for greater investment in animal husbandry, the statement said: “Livestock is a 30 trillion economy. It cannot be treated with levity,”
The proposed measures, according to the coalition’s position, should form part of a broader strategy to improve livestock production while reducing tensions between farmers and herders.
National dialogue proposed as pathway to reconciliation
The coalition cited what it described as more than 20,000 deaths associated with farmer-herder conflicts over the past decade, arguing that continued reliance on security operations would not, on its own, resolve the crisis.
“Nigeria cannot achieve peace by military means alone.”
The organisations therefore asked Tinubu to issue “a Presidential Declaration of National Dialogue and Reconciliation on Farmer-Herder and Pastoralist Conflicts”.
They proposed that the dialogue bring together pastoralist associations, including Miyetti Allah groups, traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), security agencies and state governments.
According to the coalition, the initiative should provide a platform for affected communities and relevant stakeholders to address longstanding grievances and develop practical measures to prevent further violence.
It said the process should have a mandate of “Truth, Justice, Forgiveness, Compensation, and a Roadmap for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The proposed framework places emphasis on accountability for past abuses, assistance for victims and the development of arrangements that would allow farming and pastoralist communities to coexist peacefully.
Pastoralists urged to respect farmers’ rights
While calling on the government to protect pastoralist communities, the coalition also outlined responsibilities it expects pastoralists to fulfil in reducing tensions.
It urged community leaders, households and young people to respect farmers’ rights and legally owned property, while taking “reasonable measures to prevent livestock from entering cultivated farmland”.
The groups also encouraged pastoralists to assist lawful security investigations, report incidents of cattle rustling and kidnapping, and reject banditry, violence and retaliatory attacks.
The position signals the coalition’s stated willingness to address conduct within pastoralist communities alongside its demands for greater protection from attacks and discrimination.
The organisations also announced plans to conduct public awareness and sensitisation campaigns throughout Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, saying a framework for the exercise had already been developed.
Reaffirming their national identity and rejecting the association of their community with criminality, the coalition declared: “We are Nigerians. We are pastoralists. We are not bandits. We love this country. Our cattle feed this nation,”
Coalition appeals for coordinated government action
The pastoralist organisations called on federal and state authorities, traditional institutions, farmers’ associations, security agencies and development partners to support efforts aimed at reducing violence and rebuilding trust between affected communities.
They argued that sustainable peace would require impartial law enforcement, protection for vulnerable populations, investment in livestock development and meaningful engagement with communities affected by recurring clashes.
The coalition concluded by advocating “justice without discrimination, security without exclusion, development without marginalization, and peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and the rule of law.”
Its proposals place responsibility on both the government and community stakeholders to address the underlying grievances, improve security and establish mechanisms for resolving disputes before they escalate into violence.
