The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association has accused politicians of escalating the ongoing conflict in Plateau State, which has led to significant loss of lives.
READ ALSO: Miyetti Allah raises alarm over cattle poisoning, rustling in Benue
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, the association’s National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan, dismissed claims that Fulani herders were responsible for the violence. He described the widely circulated narrative that foreign herders are driving the unrest in the Middle Belt as “misleading” and “politically motivated.”
Alhassan argued that such claims serve only to distract from the root causes of the conflict and to undermine the citizenship rights of Nigerian herders. According to him, this approach risks derailing peace efforts in the region.
“The crisis in Plateau is highly politicized,” he said, pointing to the recent unrest in Bokkos, which he claimed began over a motorcycle theft, not issues related to grazing or land disputes.
He also expressed concern over the use of ethnic militias operating under the guise of vigilante groups, which he said forces peaceful herders into a position where they must defend themselves.
Alhassan called for a neutral and fair strategy to tackle criminal activities, accusing some political figures of manipulating the insecurity for personal and political benefit.