Banditry: Fulani youths take to carwash in Sokoto

Worried by the activities of bandits in their various communities some Fulani youths have now flooded the state capital, Sokoto, doing menial jobs. Caliphate Trust reports that many of them have now taken to washing cars at public places such as the state’s Shehu Kangiwa Secretariat. One of them, Nasir Muhammad, said he now makes […]

Worried by the activities of bandits in their various communities some Fulani youths have now flooded the state capital, Sokoto, doing menial jobs.

Caliphate Trust reports that many of them have now taken to washing cars at public places such as the state’s Shehu Kangiwa Secretariat.

One of them, Nasir Muhammad, said he now makes a living from washing cars, adding that he and his friends visit public places where people parked their vehicles and wash them.

Muhammad said he had just started the business when he saw others engaged in it.

“I only wash one or two cars in a day and get N300 to N400 which is sufficient for my daily needs,” he said.

Muhammad, who hails from Tangaza Local Government Area, which is most affected by the activities of the bandits, said he was forced to leave his village.

He said he abandoned cattle rearing because it was no longer safe because of the activities of bandits.

“I used to do it for others because I didn’t have my own cattle but I cannot continue to risk my life for the little money they were giving  me.

Ibrahim Haruna, another Fulani man engaged in car wash said he was getting substantial return from the business.

He said he washed up to 10 cars in a day, which was sufficient to feed and save from.

According to him, he decided to run a carwash business because he hated begging.

“This is what I have been doing to earn a living. I don’t want to beg to eat.

“I can make like N2000 a day because I have been coming here for long and have many customers,” he said.

Haruna, who said he has never attended conventional school, however, declared his interest to pursue western education.

“I even talked with one of my customers. The owner of this car that I am washing, and he promised to enrol me. I am still waiting for him to fulfil his promise,” he said.

He expressed concern over the activities of bandits whom he said were misguided.

He appealed to them, to desist from perpetrating criminal acts because it was against the tradition, religion and humanity.

Yusuf Gandi, who works at the secretariat said they were used to some of them and had so far no problem with their activities.

“They are doing this business to earn a living. I know some of them who now own shops in the Sokoto Central market and they are doing well.’’

Caliphate Trust reports that the youths are highly patronised because they charge as low as N150 per car.