In many parts of Nigeria, a painful and often overlooked narrative continues to unfold — one involving Fulani pastoralists who say they are being unfairly profiled, attacked, and treated as scapegoats in the country’s growing insecurity crisis.
Across several communities, particularly in the North Central and Southern regions, Fulani herders moving with their cattle in search of grazing fields have reportedly suffered targeted killings, destruction of livestock, and loss of livelihood.
What is commonly echoed in these communities is a deep sense of alienation — that being a Fulani herder has become synonymous with criminality or terrorism. According to community leaders and pastoralist associations, many herders have been attacked without provocation, yet their plight receives little public attention or government response.
“We are profiled before we are heard,” said one pastoralist leader. “When a herder is attacked, it doesn’t trend or matter to anyone. But if there’s a retaliation somewhere, suddenly we become the villains.”
For these pastoralists, cattle are more than just livestock — they represent life savings, dowries, school fees, and social identity. The loss of their animals often means the loss of everything they own.
Observers warn that the pattern of silent victimization and lack of justice is deepening resentment and heightening the risk of reprisal attacks. Analysts say the national conversation has oversimplified a complex issue, blurring the lines between criminals and innocent herders and unfairly stigmatizing an entire ethnic group for the actions of a few.
Stakeholders have called for balanced justice, urging security agencies and policymakers to act based on evidence rather than ethnic profiling. “The Fulani community deserves protection like every other Nigerian. Justice must be fair and must be seen to be fair, otherwise grievances will only deepen,” said a pastoralist advocate.
For many Fulani families still on the move, their message remains simple: they want peace — and the right to graze their cattle without fear, suspicion, or violence.
