The Northern Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria has alleged that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) is responsible ...
The Northern Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria has
alleged that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) is
responsible for the widespread violence perpetrated by suspected
killer-herdsmen in the South-East and other regions of the country.
The Imo state chapter of the group led by Ibrahim Salihi,
made this known while paying a courtesy visit to the Chairman Elders Forum,
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, in Owerri.
The group alleged that members of the Miyetti Allah always
intervened whenever the dangerous group of killer herdsmen was arrested by
security operatives either for destroying farmlands or other wicked activities,
adding that after some days they would be freed.
However, they called on the Nigerian government as well as
state governors to screen the entry of Fulani people from the Central Republic
especially those of Lubwa, ethnic group, Vanguard reports.
Salihi noted: “Banditry did not start today, it started
during Abacha regime, we have herders who came into Nigeria From Central
Africa. There is an ethnic group in the Fulani tribe that are carrying AK 47,
and are the most wicked people.
“The Miyetti Allah is
not helping matters they are allying with this group, for instance, if your
farms are destroyed by this group, the Miyetti Allah is supposed to intervene
by asking the herders to pay compensation. But they are supporting this group
who are doing this and carrying arms. The Miyetti Allah is encouraging these
people to destroy farms.
“For example, you have your farm and I have my own and I
destroy your own instead of saying sorry for destroying my farms you say that I
will pay you, and if you pay me today and you don’t pay me tomorrow, I will be
angry and I will cut your cow and from there the problem starts and they will
invite their people from Niger to come and fight for them. Fulani man carrying
guns is not a lie even us who are not with them they kill our cows.”
“Another problem is that the Federal Government is not doing
enough, as they are not screening these people coming in from Central Africa into
Nigeria. The Federal Government should check Fulanis coming into the country
à nd even the state governments should do the same.
“Our reason for coming here is to appeal to Chief
Iwuanyanwu, to intervene in the insecurity in the land and that our people from
the North are calling us to come back to the North and that bandits are killing
the northerners in the East.”
In his response, the Chairman Elders Forum of the Ohanaeze
Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, said: “You have the right to live in any
part of the country. It is also wrong for governments to watch bandits kill and
burn police stations and I want to tell you that those who are killing in
Igboland are not Igbos.
“They are criminals. Let me also tell you that the situation
in Imo state is under control. The governor is doing his best to restore peace
which we have seen in the past few weeks. Anytime you receive any threat,
report to us.”
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