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Claim: The Nigerian Army is giving Fulani terrorists residential ID cards in the South East.
Verdict: Misleading! Although the circulating ID card is genuine, it was issued to a cattle rearer employed by the Nigerian army to teach and rear cattle for soldiers in the barracks. It was not issued to terrorists.
Full Text
In recent years, clashes between Fulani herders and farming communities have intensified in different parts of the country, including the South East, where over 20 thousand have reportedly been killed since 2015.
Just recently, Nga Okamma TV, a Facebook page, claimed that the Nigerian military is giving residential permits to Fulani herders in the South East.
According to the ID card shown in the claimant’s video, it was issued to Ibrahim Sale… (the second name appears incomplete) from Katsina State.
As of May 9, 2025, the post had 39,000 views. The post generated heated debates among users who accused the military of taking sides with claims that the government is deliberately sabotaging the security of South Easterners.
For instance, Chukwudi Obiora said, “The problem is our politicians are very selfish and are not doing anything. The Fulanis, even with the army, cannot do anything if our politicians say no, because it cannot work unless they come for an all-out war. In that case, our people in the military will separate and fight on our side. The problem is the politicians. Simple. But when it really happens, it will consume everybody.”
Another user, “ATCF,” questioned the barracks’ right to issue residential permits.
He wrote, “Who gave the army barracks the authority to issue residential permits?…”
Enos Thomas called on non-Fulani to unite in fighting a war against the Fulanis.
“Institutions like this drive everyone out of their houses. This is the time we need to work together and put our differences aside. This war is from the Fulani. They want them to kill all the Christians and take over the country. We should find solutions to resolve the problems locally. The Government is aiding and abetting the Fulanis,” Enos wrote in the comment section.
Other Facebook users, seen here and here, have twisted the claim from “The Nigerian military is issuing ID cards to Fulani herdsmen” to “The Nigerian Army now issues ID cards for terrorists.”
We found several other narratives shared on X, here and here.
Given the issue’s sensitivity and virality, DUBAWA investigated the claim.
Verification
The Goodluck Jonathan Barracks, located in Ohafia, Abia State, is home to the 14 Brigade headquarters and the 145 Battalion office of the Nigerian Army. Named after former President Goodluck Jonathan, it is considered Nigeria’s third-largest military base.
Considering the possibility of this ID card being fabricated, we contacted Captain Shamsudeen Umar, the Acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the unit in question, Unit 14 Brigade, Ohafia.
Captain Umar confirmed that an ID card carrying the tag “Fulani Residential Permit“ was truly issued in 2021. However, it was issued for a different purpose and intention.
He said, “The ID card was issued to some civilians in 2021 during the Barrack Investment Initiative Programme aimed at empowering military personnel. The civilian was employed to rear cattle for soldiers in the barracks. The ID card was only meant to grant civilians access to the barracks, but the contract was meant to be for one year, which had since expired in December 2021.”
The Nigerian Army launched the Barracks Investment Initiative Programme (BIIP) in 2017 to ensure that youths and women living in Army Barracks across the country are kept busy with agricultural engagements and enabled to earn an income. The programme included poultry, fishery, rabbit rearing, farming, goat rearing, and other ventures.
According to Vanguard, the BIIP was the brainchild of the former Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai, “who it was learnt felt the need to engage the women and youths in the barracks whose breadwinners [husbands and fathers] are always out for internal security assignments and other assignments, at times outside the shores of the nation are usefully engaged.”
Further search showed that this claim once circulated online in May 2022, when a group of vigilantes arrested one of the cardholders, Ibrahim Sale. As of then, his contract had ended, but he still carried the expired ID card.
Responding to the situation, a director at the Nigeria Defence College, Dr Chinyere Ibeh, said using the title “Fulani Residential Permit“ as the title of the identity card carried a tribal intonation.
“The South East is already a sensitive area when it comes to the issue of Fulani herdsmen, and this type of event could escalate existing tension,” she said.
Dr Ibeh further encouraged decision makers to consult media experts on the societal implications of policies going forward. She also advised that the army should always retrieve and destroy the ID cards of both permanent and temporary staff when they expire.
Conclusion
Although the ID card is genuine, the claim that it was issued to Fulani terrorists is misleading.
