Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant To The Late Former Preaident Muhammadu Buhari, Criticizes ‘The Herd’ For Stereotyping Fulani Herders
✍️ By Teju/ November 22, 2025/ 1:36pm
The newly released Netflix teaser for The Herd has drawn criticism from some Arewa voices for the way it portrays Fulani herders. Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant to late Former President Muhammadu Buhari, shared his concerns on Instagram, emphasizing that the issue is not about denying the reality of banditry in Nigeria. Rather, it is about the dangerous consequences of stereotyping an entire ethnic group and region that has already suffered from years of insecurity.
In the teaser, Fulani herders are depicted crossing a road with their cattle. When a newlywed couple and other travelers pass by, the herders suddenly pull out guns, shooting indiscriminately and kidnapping everyone. According to Ahmad, this scene paints a dangerously inaccurate and simplistic picture of a complex reality.
Ahmad highlighted that while it is true that some bandits are Fulani, the overwhelming majority of herders are innocent and are also victims of attacks that have claimed lives, livestock, and livelihoods. By portraying all Fulani herders as armed kidnappers, the film risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes that can lead to suspicion, discrimination, and even violence against innocent people.
He also noted that media and film carry immense influence, shaping perceptions of communities poorly understood outside their regions. The Herd, instead of helping audiences understand the nuanced reality of Nigeria’s insecurity, risks framing a one-dimensional narrative that could further stigmatize an already vulnerable group.
