Call Sunday Igboho To Order— Fulani Group Tells President Tinubu, Gov. Makinde

A Fulani socio-cultural organisation, the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria, has called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to intervene over what it described as inciting comments made by Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, against Fulani communities in the state.

The group’s appeal followed reports that Igboho issued a two-hour ultimatum to Fulani leaders in Oyo State over the alleged abduction of a woman, her children and a sibling by suspected kidnappers.

According to the reports, the Yoruba activist threatened to personally pursue those behind the incident if the victims were not freed within the deadline and vowed to storm a forest reserve allegedly serving as a hideout for the kidnappers.

In a statement dated June 21, 2026, and signed by its Convener, Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado, the organisation warned that linking an entire ethnic group to crimes allegedly committed by a few individuals could aggravate ethnic tensions and jeopardise peace and security efforts in the region.

The group insisted that Fulani communities across Nigeria are largely made up of law-abiding citizens and should not be subjected to collective blame for the actions of criminal elements.

While condemning terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, the organisation maintained that criminality should be addressed on an individual basis rather than through ethnic profiling.

It expressed concern over what it described as a growing tendency to associate Fulani communities with criminal activities without concrete evidence, warning that such narratives could fuel hatred, reprisals and further insecurity.

The statement also recalled previous attacks on Fulani settlements in parts of Oyo State, alleging that such incidents resulted in deaths, destruction of property and the displacement of several residents, including women and children.

The organisation specifically referenced past crises in the Ibarapa and Iganna areas of the state, claiming that innocent Fulani residents were among those who suffered casualties during the conflicts.

“We are not saying there are no bad eggs among Fulani, Hausa or other Northern ethnic groups. However, criminals should be treated as criminals and not profiled based on ethnicity or religion,”the statement read.

The group further argued that many of the recurring clashes between farmers and herders are fundamentally economic disputes and should not be allowed to degenerate into ethnic or religious conflicts.

It warned that inflammatory rhetoric and sweeping generalisations against any ethnic group could worsen the country’s security challenges and threaten national cohesion.

Consequently, the organisation called on President Tinubu, Governor Makinde and other governors in the South-West to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and foster peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups in the region.

The group also urged Nigerians to support security agencies in combating kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities through lawful means, while avoiding statements and actions capable of promoting ethnic or religious divisions.