Please consider using this template (or ideas from it) to write a letter to people in media, charities or government positions to encourage fair and balanced reporting of the situation in Nigeria. Thank you.
Dear (NAME)
APPEAL ON BEHALF OF OUR FULANI BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
Thousands of Fulani Christians all over Nigeria are struggling on every side. Rejected by their own people because they are Christians, rejected by Christians because they are Fulani, rejected by the Western media (including Christian media) who insist on always calling their people “Fulani militants”. This stereotyping causes danger for the many innocent, peace loving Fulani, both Christian and Muslim.
This must stop. Our Fulani brothers and sisters in Christ must be able to share the love of God with their own people without having to make excuses for the deplorable behaviour of Christians preaching against them, calling for their people to be removed from an area (otherwise known as ethnic cleansing), burning down their houses, destroying their livelihood by killing their cows. (See www.wholetruthnigeria.net for further information). And this from farming communities who not a generation ago begged herders to bring their cows to their farms to fertilise the soil but have now abandoned long standing farming family/herding family relationships to depend on chemicals for growing their food.
We urge you to use any influence you have to promote fair and just reporting of the atrocities happening in the Middle Belt and North of Nigeria. Proverbs 18:17 reminds us “The first to speak in court sounds right – until the cross examination begins.” The voices of Christians and farmers are being heard in the western media, now it is time to hear from Christian herders and Muslim herders. The media is reporting on attacks on Christians and farmers, now it is time to report on the ongoing, continuous and devastating attacks by Christians on Fulani herders and their animals (which are their livelihood).
Without accurate investigation and reporting, listening to both farmers and herders, both Christians and Muslims, any policy or relief work will be flawed, unfair and have the potential to escalate matters further. We urge you not to move forward with any plans, suggestions or articles until you have listened to herders, both Christian and Muslim, speaking on behalf of their people too.
Thank you for your consideration
(Sign and Print name here)
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