I Cannot Be Innocent!” Shocking Confession From Fulani Herdsman Leaves Nigerians Speechless – “I’ll Face What the Bad Ones Deserve

A video of a young Fulani herder speaking candidly about profiling and insecurity has been trending across TikTok, X, and WhatsApp in Nigeria this week.

In the clip, recorded in a green, bushy area with his cattle nearby, the man identifies himself as @ibrahim_dan_arewa on TikTok. He addresses what he calls a painful reality for many peaceful Fulani families: being judged because of crimes committed by a few.

“I cannot be innocent and I’ll face the challenges the bad ones amongst us are supposed to face,” he says in the video. He explains that most herders like him only want to rear their animals and live without conflict.

The herder argues that criminal activity is not limited to one group. He says 95% of Fulanis are innocent pastoralists who have no involvement in violence. According to him, when some individuals are linked to banditry, kidnapping, or attacks on farming communities, the suspicion extends to all Fulani people, including those who are not involved.

“We innocent Fulanis are also suffering,” he states. He describes facing fear, profiling, and in some cases hostility, simply because of his identity as a Fulani. He concludes that crime has no tribe or religion, and that innocent people across communities bear the cost.

Nigeria has experienced years of tension between herders and farming communities in parts of the North-Central and North-West. Incidents involving banditry and cattle rustling have led to increased scrutiny of Fulani herders, even as many pastoralists say they are victims of both criminal gangs and community reprisals.

Viewers have shared the video to highlight how collective blame affects everyday people. Others used it to call for more focus on security, justice, and dialogue between communities.

Security analysts say that addressing banditry requires targeting criminal networks specifically, rather than broad profiling. Community leaders have also stressed the need to separate pastoral livelihoods from violent crime, and to protect herders who report threats or cooperate with authorities…See More