Controversial singer Portable has urged Nigerians to stop labelling all Fulani people as bandits, stressing that criminality should not be linked to an entire ethnic group.
The singer said many people wrongly assume that anyone who looks or dresses like a Fulani person is involved in criminal activities, adding that such assumptions could lead to innocent people being targeted.
“Please, let’s stop making mistakes by labelling all Fulani as bandits. Me, I am not included. Because you see a squad of Fulani inside a bus, you will just conclude that they are bandits. They are not bandits.”
“Some are Hausa, some are their families, Fulani. Some are rearing cows, some sell pepper, and others are into business,” he said.
Portable noted that different ethnic groups live and do business across Nigeria, pointing out that just as there are many Fulani people in the South-West, there are also many Yoruba and Igbo people living in the North.
He further stated that the fight against insecurity should focus on criminals rather than innocent individuals who share similar appearances or cultural backgrounds with offenders.
“Let’s fight bandits. Let’s face bandits. It’s not about beating anyone you see that looks like Fulani. No. They can be dressing like them. Yoruba is among them, Igbo is among them, Hausa is among them, Fulani is among them. All tribes are among them,” he added.
His comments have sparked conversations online, with some agreeing that crime should not be associated with any particular ethnic group, while others shared differing opinions on the issue.
Portable’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about insecurity in Nigeria and the importance of avoiding ethnic profiling while tackling criminal activities.