Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has raised the alarm over alleged killing of its members and the rustling of their heads of livestock through what it called state sponsored militias, saying the development is a recipe for looming genocide.
President of the association Baba Othman Ngelzarma made the remarks yesterday at a media briefing in Abuja. He said Fulani people have been the target of stereotypes, ethnic cleansing and mass murder in almost all states of the federation.
The group said the successful implementation of Benue State owned Livestock Guards has “led several other states to institute similar killer squads to extort, impoverish and kill the Fulani people across this country.”
Ngelzarma said between 2017 when Benue State got presidential nod for implementation of anti-open grazing law and 2023, over 3,000 Fulani herders have been murdered in cold blood with thousand more sustaining injuries, some incapacitated.
He also claims that over 200,000 heads of livestock have been rustled and over N400,000,000 have so far been paid Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom – enforced livestock guards.
In that respect, the Miyetti Allah group demanded immediate proscription, disbandment, arrest and prosecution of leaders and members of Benue State Livestock Guards, which it said has killed its members more, gradually decimating the Fulani economy.
The pastoralists’ group in Nigeria under the umbrella of Coalition of Pastoralists Association (CPAN) is an organisation whose main objective is the promotion of peace and enhancing the welfare of its members in Nigeria.
The group called on the attention of the federal republic to what it called existential dangers faced by Fulani across Nigeria.
CPAN said the Nigerian state has in recent years watched the cattle rearing business go down the drain due to natural and man-made disasters.
He claimed that a lot of Nigerians especially sub-national entities across the country “have adopted the culture of intolerance towards our people and business of cattle rearing” through formulation of obnoxious laws targeted at chasing its members away.
“They ban open grazing without providing infrastructure for alternatives. They therefore seize our cows and arrest our people recklessly, fine them unreasonable amounts and everyone is watching as if all is well,” the cattle breeders said.
The pastoralists said Taraba State government has just succeeded in displacing thousands of herders in the last few months. So is Ondo state where Fulani people are falsely accused of every criminal incident and get killed for just looking at Fulani and/or Muslim northerners.
The group called for identification, investigation, arrest and prosecution of all personnel of NSCDC, NPF, the Army and Nigerian Airforce that have engaged in providing support to extra-judicial killings of the herders and other innocent citizens, cattle rustling and kidnapping, arson, extortion, ransom collection, mass displacements and ethnic cleansing.
They also requested the federal government’s immediate intervention to release thousands of livestock and innocent Fulbe herders illegally held captive by police.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
