Fulanis don’t carry AK-47s, we are Nigeria’s best educated – Emir of Zazzau

The Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali, has called on Nigerians to refrain from blaming the entire Fulani ethnic group for incidents of banditry, killings, and abductions across the country.

Speaking at a cultural event organized by the Fulani Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO) on October 12, Bamali emphasized that these acts do not represent the true values and culture of the Fulani people.

He cautioned against generalizing based on the actions of a few “bad eggs,” noting that Fulani tradition is centered around peace. According to the Emir, a true Fulani herdsman traditionally carries only a stick and a cutlass to care for his animals, not weapons like AK-47s. He urged Nigerians to differentiate between criminal elements and the broader Fulani community.

“Carrying an AK-47 is not part of the core values of a Fulani man. A Fulani man is expected to carry his stick and cutlass to cut grass for his animals, but definitely not an AK-47, nor to kill or maim people,” the Emir said.

Bamali also spoke proudly of the Fulani’s contributions to education, asserting that they are among the best educated in the country. “Fulanis are very enlightened people, very well educated. The best educated people in this country, I believe, are the Fulanis; I am not being biased,” he stated.

He encouraged the Fulani to continue upholding their cultural values and remain proud of their heritage. “I am very, very proud to be a Fulani man. All my ancestors, left and right, were Fulanis. So there is no way I will not be proud of my heritage, my culture, and everything,” Bamali said.

The Emir stressed that events like the FUDECO forum, which gathered participants from across Nigeria and neighboring countries, were vital in correcting misconceptions about the Fulani people and promoting their true identity. He expressed hope that these discussions would help put an end to the negative stereotypes surrounding the community.

“Our prayer is that all the nonsense going on about banditry and other things would stop. The bad eggs we have in every tribe in this country need to stop that rascality,” Bamali added.