The Coalition of Fulani Registered Organisations in Bokkos Local Government Area has rejected claims made by the Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF) Vanguard over the recent killing of a pastor, calling for calm, objectivity, and an independent investigation into both the killing and the reprisal attacks that followed.
In a statement signed by the Coalition’s Chairman and Secretary, Alhaji Sale Yusuf Adam and Alhaji Saidu Dodo, the group described the BCDF’s May 27, 2025 statement as misleading and inflammatory.
They said the rejoinder was written with “deep concern, clarity, and a strong desire for peace,” and emphasized the need for truth and peaceful coexistence.
While condemning the killing of the pastor as “deeply regrettable and condemnable by all standards,” the coalition criticized the direct attribution of the act to Fulani individuals without investigation or evidence.
It warned that “attributing the act to the Fulani without evidence or investigation echoes a dangerous trend of scapegoating,” and recalled a similar case involving the late father of Hon. Joshua Chibi Dariye, where initial assumptions of Fulani involvement were disproven by investigations that found seven Mushere individuals to be the primary culprits, with only one Fulani accomplice.
The group said this precedent underscores the dangers of premature ethnic blame, which it believes only fosters division and instability.
The statemeanint also accused the BCDF of failing to acknowledge the retaliatory violence allegedly carried out against Fulani communities in recent days.
The coalition claimed that on May 26, over 50 Fulani homes were burned by Mushere youths and women under the guise of retaliation, despite no proof of Fulani involvement in the pastor’s death. According to the coalition, the attacks on Fulani settlements continued on May 27 until security forces from Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) Sector 5 intervened. That same day, it alleged that three Fulani individuals were dragged out of a vehicle and killed at a roadblock in Mushere Central.
One of the deceased, Abacha Ngulot, was said to be a Mushere man married to a Fulani woman.
The body of another victim, Jibrin Yusuf, was reportedly still missing, while the third victim, Abubakar Bako, had been buried.
The group said four Fulani women — Halima Shuaibu, Ikilima Hassan, Zainab Shuaibu, and Hasiya Hassan — were grievously injured in the attacks and were receiving medical care in Bokkos.
It further claimed that more than 20 Fulani houses were destroyed in Kopmur on May 29, and three Fulani herders — Musa Mobale, Rabiu Mobale, and Yakubu Sani — were killed in Pankab village on May 30. On June 1, Fulani homes were again targeted in Nbor village until security personnel repelled the attackers.
The coalition also referenced earlier incidents on May 19 and May 24, in which Fulani individuals Umar Said, Rashida Yakubu, and Umar Farul Tsalha were reportedly killed while traveling or attacked near Madun.
The statement criticised the BCDF’s reference to the historical 19th-century jihad led by Usman Danfodio, describing it as inflammatory and unhelpful.
“We find it alarming that the BCDF, rather than calling for peace, is reinforcing a narrative of Fulani aggression and land-grabbing that feeds ethnic hatred,” the group said.
It added that invoking historical conquest in today’s constitutional democracy serves no constructive purpose.
Appealing for calm and understanding, the coalition urged government authorities at all levels, security agencies, the international community, and stakeholders to disregard what it described as fabricated claims aimed at tarnishing the image of Fulani residents in Bokkos.
It said that the narrative was an attempt to incite hostility against Fulani people who have lived peacefully in the area.
“We call on all ethnic groups in Bokkos LGA to desist from inflammatory statements, reprisals, and unverified accusations. We appeal to the Mushere traditional institutions and elders to caution their youths and women against ethnic vigilantism and mob justice,” the statement read.
The coalition acknowledged the role of Operation Safe Haven in preventing further escalation and expressed appreciation for their conduct during a visit to the area on May 28.
“We commend Operation Safe Haven and the GOC for their professionalism and plea for calm during their visit on May 28,” it stated.
To address the crisis, the group recommended that an independent investigative panel be set up, comprising security agencies, civil society organizations, and neutral community representatives.
The panel, it said, should be tasked with uncovering the facts surrounding the pastor’s death and the retaliatory violence. It added that perpetrators on both sides must be brought to justice without ethnic bias to restore public trust.
The coalition also called for government-supported relief and rehabilitation programs for both Fulani and non-Fulani victims. It urged the promotion of peace-building efforts, including inter-community dialogue, youth sensitization initiatives, and the creation of joint surveillance committees aimed at preventing future violence.
“In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to peaceful coexistence and justice for all. Let it be known that not all Fulanis are criminals, just as not all members of any ethnic group are saints. We reject ethnic stereotyping and urge leaders at all levels to rise above sensationalism and pursue lasting peace,” the coalition said.
