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A group under the auspices of “The Fulani Defenders” has accused the media in Plateau State of bias toward the Fulani people by not reporting or under-reporting attacks on herders and the rustling of their cattle by native criminal gangs, particularly those they refer to as “Berom Militias.”
The group, which made the allegations in a statement issued on Monday by its coordinator, Ahmad Abba, said the media in the state has been unfriendly to the Fulani ethnic group, consistently profiling them as criminals, killers, and land grabbers, while overlooking the fact that other tribes and ethnic groups also have criminal elements.
In the statement, Abba lamented that every act of violence in rural communities in the state is blamed on the Fulani people due to biased media reportage.
The group also accused outspoken cleric Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo and the National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Barr. Samuel Mwantiri, of contributing to the ethnic profiling of Fulani people as criminals.
“We are deeply worried about the media bias towards the Fulani people in Plateau State,” Abba said.
“Over the years, we have noticed with great dismay that the media in the state either refuses to report attacks against Fulani herdsmen, killings, and rustling of their cows by local criminal gangs, especially the Berom Militias. But when some affected Fulanis try to fight back, the media fills its reports with embellished stories, labeling our people as bandits and criminals.
“The likes of Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo and BYM President Barr. Samuel Mwantiri, among others, have also contributed to the profiling of the Fulani people as criminals and bandits through their statements. They continue blaming the Fulani people for every act of violence and criminality in Plateau State, and sadly, the media buys into their propaganda with biased reporting.
“We are still at a loss as to the motives behind the ethnic profiling and blaming of our people. We agree that there are criminal elements among the Fulani people, just as there are among other tribes in the state, but always blaming the Fulanis for every attack is unacceptable.
“This has got to stop. We, the Fulani Defenders, are in no way telling the media what to do, nor are we trying to teach them their work. What we are pleading for is a fair balance in reporting as it affects our people,” he concluded.
“Finally, we would state clearly that Fulanis are not the only perpetrators of crimes in Plateau State. We are also victims. Without peace, there will be no development,” Abba stated.
‘The media in Plateau is biased towards Fulanis’ – Group alleges
