Following the confusion over the real identity of the killer herdsmen ravaging villages and farmlands, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, takes a look at the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, a group recently accused of complicity in the Benue killings and herdsmen’s menace across Nigeria
Since reports of herdsmen’s brutal killings of unarmed farmers and villagers assumed regular feature in the country, concerned Nigerians have wondered how stick-carrying Fulani herdsmen they knew over the years suddenly transformed to AK 47 totting killers and midnight throat cutters.
Coming at a time the Benue State Government and some other citizens in the state were already pointing accusing fingers at the group, whose leaders openly condemned the Anti-Open Grazing Law, passed by the state and threatened to make the state ungovernable until the law is amended, there has been calls to the government and the security agencies to investigate and establish whether the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is the actual sponsor of the on-going bloodbath in Benue State and other parts of the country.
The allegation notwithstanding, the leaders of the association, both in the affected states and at the national level have not shied away from repeating their insistence that the violence will not stop until the anti-open grazing law is discarded. Just before the latest massacre of innocent citizens in the state, in which 73people were killed, the Secretary-General of the association, Usman Ngelzerma, blamed the killings on the anti-open grazing law in Benue State.
Ngelzerma, who accused a faction of his association, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, for issuing threats before the latest attacks in Benue State said, “I like the Benue State governor. He is a peace-loving person but is working on wrong advice. The approach he took is wrong. You cannot change the way of life of a people like the way you turn off a light switch. We don’t wish for the crisis to continue but let us give it (the law) another look. We don’t like the killings; we will never condone the killing of people. Give the farmers their rights but consider the pastoralists too.”
Just a day after the mass burial of the 73 victims of the recent herdsmen attacks, the National Vice President of the association, Husaini Yusuf Bosso, reportedly warned that more blood will be shed in the state if the anti-grazing law introduced by Governor Samuel Ortom is not completely scrapped. “We, the association wrote a letter to him, even met him. We told him that this law cannot work. We told them that there is an international cattle route from Niger to Eastern Nigeria.
“He said he will not allow cattle to pass through Benue state even if it is the cattle route. We told him that if he wants to implement that law, he must provide a land for us to rent. He did not provide any land for cattle herders. They have been in that state even before colonial days and co-existing peacefully. We advised him and he refused to listen to us. We are not against that law but he has to provide a land for these people before implementing such a law. If there is no land, there is a problem.”
Also reacting to a question in a recent interview on why the breeders are opposed to ranching when President Muhammadu Buhari had done so, Ibrahim Galma, the Assistant Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Benue State chapter said pointedly, “Buhari can ranch, I keep saying that ranching is good, but it is quite expensive to ranch our local breed.
I will give you an example, to ranch 30 of the local Fulani cattle you will require about N30 million a year to feed them. That is how expensive it is to ranch our breed. However, I must say emphatically that ranching is good but very expensive to go into. Ranching is good but it should be a long time goal. It can be achieved but it has to be planned overtime. It is not what you can attain within a short time.”
Who are the members of MACBAN?
From reports, it seems obvious that Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is a well-recognized and registered organization. Referred by some as the umbrella body of all Fulani herders, the association has chapters, with known officials in virtually all states of the federation where cattle is bred and sold. Critics of the organization claimed it has foot soldiers made up of the herdsmen.
Although it is not established that the leadership of the association equip the herdsmen beyond what is needed to guard the cows, it is on record that soon after the inauguration of the current Buhari administration, the association, through its North/West youth Leader, Yusuf Usman, offered to help the government with the protection of refineries, pipelines and to combat vandalism in the petroleum sector.
The forces behind MACBAN
Following the boldness and forthrightness of the leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in defence of the herders and the seeming inability of the Federal Government to listen to the demands of Benue State Government and some people to outlaw the group and arrest its leaders, some people are already alleging that the group is backed by the political and business in the country.
Whatever is the situation, it seems obvious that since cattle breeding is an expensive business, the herdsmen, roaming around with the cows are not the actual owners of the cows. The owners, according to sources, are the very rich; the governors, senators, other law makers, former and current military leaders and other influential members of the society.
“This fact explains why the organisation is so powerful and why the federal government seems unable to act fast now,” explained Dr. Israel Nwani.
Notwithstanding that the association is well known, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, Joshak Habila, recently said detectives are zeroing in on its leadership and other people allegedly involved in the Benue killings
