Tension Rises as Fulani Herders Reportedly Leave Southern Communities

A growing number of Fulani settlers and herders are reportedly leaving parts of southern Nigeria amid rising tensions, worsening insecurity, and allegations of ethnic profiling and targeted hostility in some communities.

Investigations and field reports indicate that some Fulani families in parts of the South-West and South-East have either relocated voluntarily or been forced to move from areas where they have lived for decades, following suspicions linking some individuals to crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism-related violence.

Sources say the movement has been gradual but increasingly noticeable in rural communities, where pastoral families are reportedly abandoning long-standing settlements. In some cases, herders are said to be relocating livestock toward northern Nigeria or moving to neighbouring West African countries perceived as safer for grazing activities.

The development comes amid heightened insecurity in several parts of the country, where killings, abductions, and rural violence have fueled mistrust between farming communities and migrant herders.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has denied claims that its members are widely involved in criminal activities, insisting that many innocent herders are becoming victims of ethnic profiling, displacement, and attacks.

The South-West Chairman of MACBAN and Sarkin Fulani of Abeokuta, Alhaji Muhammad Labar, confirmed that some members had already left the region due to fear and insecurity.

He said: “Some of our members have already left the South-West. They relocated to places where they believe they will be safer and more comfortable. There is fear within the Fulani community because of the way criminality is increasingly being linked to our people.”

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Labar added that Fulani settlers have lived peacefully in the region for generations and contribute significantly to the economy through cattle rearing and livestock trade.

MACBAN stressed that it continues to advocate for peaceful coexistence between Fulani herders and host communities, urging members not to engage in actions that could escalate tensions.

The association also stated that it has consistently worked with security agencies to identify and expose criminal elements within rural communities.

“We have always maintained that anybody found wanting should face the law. We will never allow the image of the Fulani community to be dragged into criminality,” Labar said.

Further findings indicate that Fulani herders in parts of the South-East are also facing growing insecurity, including reported killings, cattle rustling, and forced displacement in some communities.

The Deputy Director-General of MACBAN overseeing the South-East and South-South zones, Gidado Siddiki, alleged that several pastoralists were killed between November 2025 and May 2026 in parts of Enugu State, including Uzo-Uwani, Nkanu East, Enugu East, and Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas.

He also claimed that dozens of cattle were killed or stolen in separate incidents and expressed concern that reports made to security agencies had not yielded adequate results.

Siddiki further alleged that Fulani settlers were displaced in some communities in Ebonyi State, despite mediation efforts involving security agencies.

While MACBAN officials described parts of Abia State as relatively calm, they said pastoralists in some areas still face restrictions and discrimination.

In Anambra State, they noted some improvement in security following government interventions, although isolated incidents of violence against herders were still reported.

Some residents in affected communities continue to express concern over rising insecurity, particularly kidnapping, armed attacks, and destruction of farmlands linked to rural violence.

A Fulani resident in Osun State, speaking anonymously, said many Fulani families in southern Nigeria were born and raised in their host communities and should not be collectively blamed for criminal acts.

He also said many herders cooperate with security agencies by sharing intelligence and monitoring newcomers within their communities.

Stakeholders and security analysts have called for renewed dialogue between farmers and herders, improved rural security, and stronger conflict resolution mechanisms to address rising tensions.

They warn that continued farmer–herder conflicts, if not properly managed, could deepen mistrust, increase displacement, and worsen insecurity across several states.

Authorities have yet to confirm a coordinated or mass exit of Fulani settlers from southern Nigeria.

Tension Rises as Fulani Herders Reportedly Leave Southern Communities

Burns Schools in Borno, Residents Escape Into Bush

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents have destroyed primary and secondary school buildings in Kautikari village, Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

This is a fresh attack that has heightened concerns over the safety of schools and communities in the country’s troubled North-East.

The attack, which occurred at about 7 p.m. on Saturday, comes amid growing fears over renewed insurgent activities in parts of southern Borno, particularly following the recent abduction of pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

According to security sources, the terrorists stormed Kautikari and specifically targeted the community’s educational facilities, setting both the primary school and day secondary school ablaze before fleeing the area.

One of the sources said residents were forced to flee into nearby bushes and surrounding communities to avoid being caught in the attack.

“No casualty so far, but residents were forced to flee into the bush for safety,” the source said.

Residents expressed shock at the destruction of the schools, noting that although Kautikari has suffered repeated insurgent attacks in the past, public institutions had largely escaped direct attacks.

A community member described the incident as unusual, saying the insurgents appeared determined to cripple educational activities in the area.

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“I wonder why they set ablaze the primary school and day secondary school. Such attacks are unusual,” the resident said.

The latest assault is the latest in a series of attacks on Kautikari, a community that has repeatedly come under threat from insurgent groups operating in the region. Earlier this year, suspected terrorists reportedly invaded the village, killing residents and local vigilante members, looting food supplies and livestock, and forcing many families to flee.

Security experts believe the latest attack signals a renewed effort by insurgents to target educational infrastructure in areas recovering from years of conflict.

The incident has also revived memories of the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, an attack that drew global attention to the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

More than a decade later, communities within Chibok Local Government Area continue to face security challenges despite military operations aimed at degrading insurgent networks.

The attack comes less than a month after the reported abduction of dozens of pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area. The incident triggered fresh concerns over the safety of students and teachers and prompted renewed calls for stronger implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

Education stakeholders have warned that persistent attacks on schools could undermine years of efforts by the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and development partners to rebuild educational infrastructure destroyed during the insurgency.

They argue that the destruction of schools, coupled with fears of abduction and violence, may discourage parents from sending their children to school and worsen the education crisis already affecting conflict-impacted communities.

As of press time, efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, could not be reached for comments.

Security agencies are expected to assess the extent of the damage and intensify surveillance in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.

The latest incident underscores the continuing threat posed by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters despite years of military operations aimed at restoring peace across the North-East.

Boko Haram Burns Schools in Borno, Residents Escape Into Bush

Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has dismissed longstanding allegations that the late Chief MKO Abiola was poisoned, insisting that medical investigations conducted after the business mogul’s death concluded that he died of natural causes.

Abdulsalami made the revelation in Chapter 21 of his newly launched autobiography, Call of Duty, which was unveiled on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during events marking his 84th birthday.

The 264-page memoir provides fresh insight into the death of MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, as well as other key events that shaped Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy.

According to Abdulsalami, allegations that Abiola was poisoned are not supported by available medical evidence. He stated that the family of the late politician requested an autopsy after his death and that a team of American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists was assembled to conduct the examination.

“I do not believe Abiola was poisoned. The family requested an autopsy and we assembled American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists to conduct it. The autopsy report attributed his death to natural causes,” he wrote.

The former military leader explained that Abiola had been dealing with health challenges long before his death, including hypertension and a heart-related condition. He referenced a radiology report dated September 28, 1994, prepared by Colonel (Dr.) O. Awofeso, then Chief Consultant Radiologist at the Nigerian Army Defence Hospital, Sokoto, which reportedly showed that Abiola had an enlarged heart and signs of hypertensive cardiac disease.

Abdulsalami recounted that Abiola died on July 7, 1998, while meeting a visiting United States delegation led by then Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Tom Pickering, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice.

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Drawing from Rice’s memoir, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, Abdulsalami said Abiola began coughing shortly after the meeting started. Rice reportedly noticed that Abiola’s ankles were swollen and that his coughing became increasingly severe during the discussion.

As his condition worsened, Abiola complained that he felt unusually warm and requested stronger air conditioning. A doctor was summoned and reportedly concluded that he was suffering a heart attack.

Abdulsalami also cited Pickering’s account of the incident, in which the diplomat recalled that Abiola developed breathing difficulties after visiting the restroom and appeared visibly distressed. According to Pickering, Abiola was moved to a couch, removed his shirt and asked for more ventilation before medical personnel arrived.

“A doctor arrived within 10 minutes and called for immediate hospital attention. We all helped to put him in a car. There was no ambulance immediately available. We followed him to the clinic of the Head of State of Nigeria, where doctors immediately began to work on him, but unfortunately their efforts were unsuccessful,” Pickering was quoted as saying.

The retired general recalled receiving the shocking news from his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrasheed Aliyu, who accompanied the American officials to the meeting.

“Aliyu, my CSO, called me. As soon as I picked, he said, in a shaky voice, that there was a problem. I asked: ‘What problem again?’ He said Abiola was dead. My head went blank,” Abdulsalami wrote.

He added that informing Abiola’s family was one of the most difficult moments of the ordeal, noting that one of Abiola’s daughters became overwhelmed with emotion and had to be comforted by Susan Rice.

One of the most significant revelations in the memoir is Abdulsalami’s claim that efforts to secure Abiola’s release were already underway before his sudden death. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who spoke at the public presentation of the book, confirmed that discussions regarding Abiola’s freedom had reached an advanced stage.

According to Obasanjo, Abdulsalami had maintained communication with members of the Abiola family, while Abiola’s son, Kola Abiola, was already in Abuja as arrangements for his father’s release progressed. The disclosure is likely to reignite debate over one of the most controversial chapters in Nigeria’s political history.

Abdulsalami argued that permitting the American delegation access to Abiola ultimately helped dispel conspiracy theories surrounding his death.

“If we had not allowed the American delegation to see him and he had died in custody, it would have been a different story. It would have been insinuated that he had long died and we were trying to cover it up,” he stated.

The former Head of State also disclosed that former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida never discussed the annulment of the June 12 election with him. According to Abdulsalami, despite widespread assumptions that he was involved in the decision-making process, he only learned about the annulment like many other Nigerians.

The retired general also used the memoir to refute allegations that he received $500 million following the death of General Sani Abacha.

“I want to put it on record that nobody gave me $500 million or any amount, bigger or smaller.

“Is it possible to collect half a billion dollars in cash and only one person in the world would know about it?” he asked.

He described the allegation as baseless and lacking any factual foundation.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12 election, remained in detention after declaring himself president in 1994. His death on July 7, 1998, barely a month after the death of General Sani Abacha, triggered widespread speculation and controversy, with many Nigerians believing he was prevented from reclaiming the mandate many considered rightfully his.

Abdulsalami later assumed leadership of the country and oversaw Nigeria’s transition to democratic rule, eventually handing over power to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.

With the release of Call of Duty, Abdulsalami has offered one of the most detailed insider accounts yet of the events surrounding MKO Abiola’s death, the June 12 crisis, and Nigeria’s return to democracy.

Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning