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A group under the umbrella of the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria criticized what it described as “inconsistencies” in the US position on Nigeria’s security situation, particularly narratives linking the Fulani ethnic group to widespread violence in the country.
In a rejoinder signed by Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado and published on Thursday, the group said recent and past assessments attributed to the US government and allied bodies had changed in tone, creating confusion about the true nature of insecurity in Nigeria.
Previous reports, which emerged during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, cautioned against portraying the Fulani ethnic group as the central cause of insecurity or branding them as a collective threat.
According to the group, such previous positions warned against ethnic profiling and generalizations that could inflame tensions between communities.
The statement said that during that period, public discourse in Nigeria often associated incidents of banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes with Fulani identity, a trend which it said led to retaliation against innocent communities.
He cited incidents in some parts of Nigeria, including reported attacks on settlements and destruction of property, which he attributed to ethnic stereotypes and retaliatory violence.
The group also argued that conflict between herders and farmers has often been oversimplified in public debate, despite repeated explanations from security analysts that the underlying factors include land use disputes, environmental pressures, grazing routes and local political tensions.
He refers to recurring crises in states such as Benue State, Plateau State and Taraba State, insisting that many Fulani families in these areas have lived there for generations and should not be treated as outsiders.
The statement also argues that previous international assessments have described the crisis as largely economic and environmental rather than purely ethnic or religious, recommending reforms such as livestock systems, structured land use policies, better law enforcement and lasting conflict resolution mechanisms.
However, the group lamented that such recommendations, in its view, have not been consistently reflected in current international commentary, arguing that some narratives now place disproportionate emphasis on Fulani-related violence.
He also expressed concern over reports attributed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that an estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants were responsible for insecurity across Nigeria.
The group warned that such figures, if not put into context, risk unfairly stereotyping millions of law-abiding Fulani citizens and deepening ethnic mistrust.
He also argued that other non-state armed actors operating in the country are often underrepresented in international reporting, citing separatist and militia-related violence in several regions.
Among these groups are the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which Nigerian authorities have repeatedly accused of violent attacks and enforcement of stay-at-home orders. IPOB has also been proscribed by Nigerian courts as a terrorist organization.
The group also referred to incidents linked to Yoruba nation agitators in the southwest, arguing that their activities are not always given the same attention in global security assessments.
He also referred to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom as part of his concerns over what he described as a “perceived imbalance” in external reporting on Nigeria’s security challenges.
The statement said such perceptions have fueled suspicions among some Nigerians about the neutrality of international actors in analyzing the country’s complex insecurity landscape.
He also linked the speech to broader geopolitical trends in parts of West Africa, including growing anti-Western sentiments in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.
Despite its criticism, the group acknowledged the severity of insecurity across Nigeria, stressing that the crisis cannot be reduced to a single ethnic, religious or regional factor.
He argued that banditry, terrorism, separatist violence, kidnapping syndicates and communal clashes involve actors from different backgrounds across the country.
The group therefore called for more balanced reporting, evidence-based safety assessments and responsible public comment that avoids ethnic scapegoating.
He also urged both Nigerian authorities and international partners to prioritize equity, justice and national cohesion in addressing insecurity.
“Nigeria’s future cannot be built on ethnic scapegoating, mutual suspicion or divisive narratives,” the statement concludes.
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