The Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has called on Fulani community leaders to work closely with security agencies in identifying criminals hiding within their communities, saying persistent kidnappings and banditry have fueled public suspicion against the ethnic group.

Speaking in Hausa in a video that has gone viral on social media, the governor urged Fulani leaders to encourage their children and other community members involved in criminal activities to abandon crime and return home.

According to Bago, many victims of abduction often accuse Fulani individuals of being responsible for kidnappings, a perception he said would continue to deepen if community leaders fail to take proactive steps against criminal elements.

He stressed that tackling insecurity requires the cooperation of traditional and community leaders, urging them not to shield criminals but to assist security agencies in identifying and bringing them to justice.

The governor warned that continued silence over the activities of kidnappers and bandits would only worsen public distrust and damage the reputation of law-abiding members of the Fulani community.

Bago reaffirmed his administration's commitment to addressing insecurity across Niger State and appealed for greater collaboration between communities and security agencies to restore peace and protect lives and property.