Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has defended his statement that Fulani herdsmen should be allowed to carry AK-47 guns to protect themselves.
He had asserted this two days ago, drawing the ire of many.
But he insisted on the argument on Friday morning, while on a programme on Channels Television.
He, however, said he was speaking figuratively.
He said, “When we mention AK-47, it is a figure of speech, the issue is protection, self-help, you must protect yourself.
“The Fulani man is so exposed, dehumanised and demonised. He is being seen as a bandit and so anywhere he goes, his commonwealth which I call his cows are being taken and rustled and sometimes they are fined beyond your imagination and then he has no option than to protect himself.”
He further said the Fulani had the right to be in any bforest.
“Land is in the hands of the state and federal governments in trust but Nigerians don’t need the permission of governors or the federal government to settle everywhere. You don’t need the permission of the governor of Bauchi or the governor of Ondo to be in the forests of Ondo if you choose to live in the forests because under Section 41 of the constitution, you are free to settle anywhere,” Mohammed noted.
