The Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro James, has installed Alhaji Mohammed Umar as the Seriki Fulani of Badagry, Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
The ceremony drew Fulani socio-cultural leaders from across the South-West and neighbouring Benin Republic, according to local news outlets.
During the installation at Sito Gbethrome Community along the Semé expressway, Oba James presented Umar with traditional staff and beads, while emphasizing the peaceful nature of the Fulani people.
“Though the stool you are on is too high, you have been endorsed by God today, and He will be guarding you,” Oba James declared.
He urged Umar to remain proactive in addressing issues within Badagry communities, particularly tensions between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.
The traditional ruler advised the new Seriki to appoint representatives across various Badagry communities to stay informed and ensure harmonious coexistence.
Chairman of the political party All Progressives Congress (APC) Arewa Communities in Lagos, Alhaji Saidu Yusuf, called for collaboration between Fulani and Yoruba communities, stressing unity over politics.
“We should put politics apart and work for the development of our communities,” Yusuf said.
The Seriki Fulani of Abeokuta and Chairman of Meyiti Allah, South-West, Alhaji Mohammed Laba, highlighted the importance of traditional leaders in conflict resolution.
“One of our own is being installed, we are happy to be in Badagry. This is grassroots, and it will spread everywhere,” he said.
Laba encouraged the new Seriki to discourage criminal activities among pastoralists.
“We want peaceful relationships with our host communities, who have given us land, which we are enjoying. We have been in this place doing our businesses peacefully without being harmed, and we will give the same in return,” he added.
Chairman of the Arewa Council of Chiefs in Lagos, Alhaji Aminu Dogara, reaffirmed the commitment of Arewa leaders to the welfare of all residents in the state.
The Aholu of Dale Whedako, Oba Olusegun Wheto, prayed for wisdom for the new Seriki Fulani to lead effectively.
In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Mohammed Umar pledged to tackle pressing issues such as poverty, education, and healthcare while preserving cultural heritage.
“We must preserve our traditions while embracing innovation and progress,” he stated.
Umar urged his people to adhere to community regulations regarding cattle rearing and support the development of Badagry.
“I will continue to work to promote our cultural interests and ensure peace and harmony for all,” he affirmed.
The event was attended by prominent figures including Oba Adekanmi Oyekanmi, the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, traditional chiefs, and representatives from the Nigeria Police and Army.
The Fulani people are believed to be the largest semi-nomadic group globally, found across West and Central Africa. In Nigeria, some continue to live as semi-nomadic herders, while others have moved to cities.
Unlike city dwellers, the nomadic groups spend most of their lives in the bush and are often involved in clashes with farming communities and also engage in kidnapping for ransom. They herd their animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with local farmers.
Some of the herders bear sophisticated weapons and use them to terrorize many parts of Nigeria, with security operatives ignoring many of the attacks for allegedly not getting orders to go after the criminals.
Several brutal attacks happened under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was born to a Fulani family on 17 December 1942, in Daura, a town in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria.
The continuous unprovoked attacks triggered resistance in South-East region, inhabited by Igbo people and South-West region, inhabited by the Yoruba people.
A Yoruba activist and philanthropist, Chief Dr. Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, demanded end to the attacks that have cost lives of thousands. He asked the Fulani people to vacate all the forests in South-West Nigeria.
As the Akoni Oodua of Yorubaland, he is known for fighting for the rights of the Yoruba people. He is currently advocating for a sovereign Yoruba country.
No fewer than 29,000 Yoruba people have been killed by Fulani terrorists in South-West Nigeria, the National Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, Professor Emeritus Adebanji Akintoye said in November 2024, adding that the suspected criminals continue to rape women and subject others to all sorts of atrocities.
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