MACBAN proffers solutions to end herdsmen killing

THE Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), on Sunday, said the recent clash between herdsmen and communities was as a result of the unfavourable anti-open grazing laws which some states enacted.

This is just as the Pastoralist body with over 20 million members proffer some solutions to end the lingering crisis between herdsmen and farmers across the country, which has led to the death of many and destruction of properties.

MACBAN while condemning the recent killings in the country, said the pastoralist share a long relationship with many communities in Nigeria where they carry out their legitimate pastoralism.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Ngelijarma said “In fact, our case is worsened by long years of exclusion suffered by the Fulani herdsmen as the most neglected community in the country, thereby depriving us of so many things.

“The current situation in our opinion is fueled by the draconian laws put in place by some state governments with the singular aim of chasing our people out of them state ps simply for ethnic hatred.

“The anti open-grazing law which started in Ekiti state before it was replicated in Benue, Taraba and other states is nothing more than a symbol of intolerance and so not in any way intend to solve the Farmers/grazers conflict as the livestock breeders interest is neither captured in the law nor in its implementation mechanism.

“While as a body we are not against any law that can engender peace, create societal harmony and stability, we cannot oblige any self-centred regulation with primordial sentiments based on injustice, intolerance and infringement of people’s fundamental rights.

“It is no longer hidden that to achieve these, some state government are sponsoring ethnic militia against our people, recruiting and arming locals to kill our people and rustle their livestock as seen recently in Benue and Taraba States”.

“Only very recently, we have lost over 1000 people including children, women and the aged and over 2 million cattle to this gang.

“We are more disturbed today as this state government hides under the self-created crisis and blackmailing the Federal Government into releasing to them security operatives to achieve their illegal and wicked agenda on our people”

He further said “more worrisome is the fact that the pastoralist community which has been the main target of the offensive is also deliberately been pointed as the attackers at the same time.

“This horrible accusation is both intent and purpose is meant not only to smear the image of the herdsmen as a peace-loving community but to also allow further criminal justification to carry out ethnic cleansing on our members, as witnessed in different parts of the country”.

Ngelijarma, however, said “Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria as premier pastoralist body in the country has remained in unimaginable pains on a daily basis as we receive communication of gory details of attacks, maiming and destruction of our members across the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we totally condemn violence, in whatever form anywhere in Nigeria and by whomever. It is important to note that the pastoralist shares a long relationship with many communities in the country, as they carry out their legitimate occupation of nomadism/pastoralist; carrying along their lives, families and possessions making it impossible to foment trouble”.

On how to end the lingering crisis, MACBAN said “we confirm the position of His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that in spite of the fact that 732 of our people were killed in Mambila and 82 women and children killed in Numan and nobody was arrested. We hereby demand the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of these heinous.

“We order the immediate disarmament of all illegally armed militias across the country in the interest of peace, security and stability. We condemn in totality any attempt of branding herdsmen as terrorists as is being clamoured from certain quarters”

“The Federal Government should create a Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to attend the multidimensional needs of the industry as is obtained in many countries and the enactment of a national law to carter for the peculiar needs of pastoralists in particular and the Livestock subsectors in general since the mischievous anti-open grazing laws promulgated by some states have woefully failed to address the contentious issues”.