Bago warns silence fuels insecurity, urges Fulani communities to identify armed criminals

As insecurity continues to reshape relations between farming and pastoral communities across Nigeria, Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago has delivered one of his strongest public appeals yet to Fulani communities, urging them to actively support security agencies by identifying armed criminals hiding among them.

The governor warned that the continued activities of kidnappers and bandits widely believed to operate from forested areas are not only fuelling violence but also deepening public distrust and damaging the reputation of peaceful Fulani communities.

His remarks, delivered during a meeting with members of the Fulani community in Minna on July 18, reflect growing pressure on traditional leaders and local communities to play a more active role in intelligence gathering as governments seek new strategies to confront persistent insecurity.

“The Reputation of the Fulani Community Is at Stake”

Addressing community members, Governor Bago acknowledged that many Fulani families continue to live peacefully across Niger State but said the actions of armed criminal groups have increasingly shaped public perception.

According to him, victims of kidnapping frequently identify their abductors as Fulani, creating resentment that affects innocent members of the community.

“Anyone who is kidnapped and later released will say it was Fulani who abducted them,” the governor said.

“There is no way people will not begin to resent you because of this. Advise your brothers who are in the forests to return and live peacefully within society.

“Your brothers are killing people, yet no one has stopped you from grazing your cattle, farming or living in peace. However, your brothers have gone out and are committing atrocities against innocent people. If they cannot be found, then you will be held accountable.”

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The governor’s comments highlight the delicate challenge facing authorities—distinguishing between law-abiding pastoral communities and criminal elements accused of exploiting forests and remote settlements as operational bases.

Call for Community Intelligence

Beyond condemning criminal activities, Bago criticised what he described as the reluctance of some community members to report armed individuals operating within Fulani settlements.

He argued that effective intelligence from local residents remains one of the most important tools available to security agencies in combating banditry and kidnapping.

“You see Fulani carrying guns, yet you do not inform the security agencies that these people are not our relatives and that they have come to create unrest,” he said.

“We have lived together for many years, and this is not right. It must stop.”

Security analysts have long argued that community-based intelligence is essential in countering criminal groups that often rely on local familiarity, difficult terrain and informal support networks to evade security operations.

The governor’s appeal therefore signals a shift toward greater emphasis on community accountability in tackling insecurity.

Religious Leaders Also Come Under Scrutiny

Governor Bago also used the occasion to caution Islamic clerics against delivering sermons capable of inflaming communal tensions.

He warned that public disagreements among religious leaders could worsen an already fragile security situation if not handled responsibly.

According to the governor, the state government would not hesitate to sanction any place of worship found promoting messages that incite violence or threaten public peace.

“If this does not stop, the government will shut down any mosque found to be delivering sermons that incite the public,” he warned.

The statement reflects increasing concern among authorities over the potential role of inflammatory rhetoric in escalating communal and security-related conflicts.

A Broader Security Strategy

Niger State has remained one of the states most affected by banditry, kidnapping and violent attacks linked to armed groups operating across forest corridors connecting several states in North-Central and North-West Nigeria.

Repeated attacks on rural communities have disrupted farming activities, displaced residents and intensified concerns over food security and economic stability.

Against this backdrop, the governor’s remarks suggest that the state government is seeking a broader security approach that combines military operations with stronger community participation, religious responsibility and intelligence sharing.

Balancing Accountability and Peaceful Coexistence

While reaffirming the need to confront criminality, Governor Bago stressed that the government’s objective is not to stigmatise any ethnic group but to preserve peaceful coexistence among all residents of the state.

His appeal underscores the increasingly difficult balance confronting policymakers: ensuring that criminal elements are isolated and prosecuted without fuelling ethnic profiling or undermining longstanding relationships between pastoral and farming communities.

As security agencies intensify operations across Niger State, the effectiveness of that strategy may ultimately depend not only on force but also on the willingness of local communities to provide timely information capable of disrupting criminal networks before attacks occur.