“Not Every Fulani Is a Bandit” – Portable Criticizes Ethnic Stereotyping

Portable 

Controversial street-pop star Portable has weighed in on Nigeria’s insecurity debate, calling out ethnic profiling of the Fulani community.

Speaking during an Instagram Live session on Wednesday, the Zazuu crooner addressed growing tensions linking Fulani herders to banditry and kidnappings across the country.

“Make una dey reason am. Not every Fulani is a bandit. We get good Fulani, we get bad Fulani, same way we get bad Yoruba, bad Igbo. No tribe holy pass,” Portable said.

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Portable’s reaction follows viral videos and online narratives blaming the entire Fulani ethnic group for rising cases of farm attacks and abductions, especially in the North Central and South West. 

The singer argued that generalizing was dangerous, “If one Hausa man thief, you no fit call all Hausa people thief. If one pastor fake, you no fit say all pastors na scam. So why Fulani own different?”

The Zeh Nation boss claimed he has Fulani friends and business partners who are “peaceful and hardworking.” “The ones wey dey sell cow for my area, dem no dey carry gun. Na who give bad ones gun we suppose face,” he added.

Portable’s statement taps into a heated national conversation. Insecurity has fueled ethnic suspicion, with advocacy groups warning that blanket profiling could trigger reprisals. The National Human Rights Commission recently cautioned against “ethnicizing crime” after several communal clashes.

He ended with a plea to government and citizens, “Make government arrest the criminals, no matter the tribe. And make we fans stop using mouth cause war. Music no dey play for grave.”