National President of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello, has called on Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni to stop the unauthorised destruction of the cattle route in Potiskum local government area of the state.
In a statement. Hon. Bello said; “We are making a passionate appeal to Governor Mai Mala Buni to intervene swiftly to halt these illegal activities and revoke any illicitly allocated plots. The admission by the village head during an interview with the press and the subsequent action by the local government have led to further destruction and allocation of the cattle route for personal gains.”
He accused the village head of Juma’a, Alhaji Yusuf Baba, with the alleged backing of the vice chairman of the local government, of taking actions that contravene these orders
According to the statement, the cattle route is not only a historical pathway for herders from Cameroon through Nigeria to Niger but also a critical component in preventing conflicts between farmers and herders.
“The unauthorised allocation of this land jeopardises the livelihood of thousands of pastoralists and poses a significant threat to the long-standing peace and security of the region. This vital passage, which has served as an international cattle route for over a century, is being illegally obstructed and parceled out as plots in direct defiance of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s executive orders,” he said.
Bello urged local government council chairmen to establish committees to foster peace between farmers and herders and safeguard grazing reserves and cattle routes from encroachment.