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Tag: MACBAN

  • MACBAN knocks US over sanction threat on Nigeria

    MACBAN knocks US over sanction threat on Nigeria

    • …disassociates self from killing, banditry, kidnapping, others

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Sunday criticised the newly introduced United States House Resolution 860, describing some of its assertions as incomplete and misleading regarding Nigeria’s pastoral communities.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja, MACBAN President Baba Ngelzarma urged the US Congress to adopt a balanced, factual, and informed stance that accurately reflects the realities on the ground.

    He advised the US to revise the resolution, which seeks to impose sanctions on the association, including visa bans and asset freezes on individuals and groups allegedly involved in religious persecution.

    Ngelzarma highlighted that pastoralists have often been among the most affected groups in Nigeria’s rural conflicts, a factor overlooked in the US decision.

    H.Res. 860, introduced in the 119th US Congress by Rep. Christopher Smith with co-sponsor Rep. Bill Huizenga, proposes restrictive measures against MACBAN and other Fulani-led organisations.

    The resolution also recommends listing “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” from states such as Benue and Plateau on the “Entities of Particular Concern” list under the International Religious Freedom Act.

    Responding to the resolution, MACBAN denied any links to terrorist groups and condemned all acts of terrorism in Nigeria, emphasizing its commitment to peace and lawful pastoral activities.

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    Ngelzarma said, “MACBAN respectfully calls for revising H.R. 860 to remove all mention of MACBAN. We wish to state clearly and without ambiguity: MACBAN does not support, condone, harbour, finance, or protect any form of criminality, extremism, or violence.

    “MACBAN is not and has never been an armed group or violent organisation. We condemn in the strongest possible terms banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, terrorism, or any crime whatsoever”.

    He maintained that rural insecurity in Nigeria affects pastoralists and that thousands had been killed within eight years between 2015 and 2025 by cattle rustlers, bandits, armed vigilantes, militias, and extremist groups.

    The president said, “Verified statistics indicate that between 2015 and 2025, over 18,640 pastoralists lost their lives, 1,298,802 were displaced, 87,543 houses were destroyed, and more than 1,114,519 cattle were rustled or killed, while over 656,555 small ruminants were lost or killed in 17 states.

    “These losses represent not only human tragedy but also a massive blow to Nigeria’s livestock economy and national food systems.”

    The association urged US and international stakeholders to consider the human and economic losses when assessing the pastoralist community.

    He also disclosed targeted assassinations, noting that several top officials who cooperated with security agencies to expose criminal networks have been killed.

    According to him, they include the chairmen of its Nasarawa, Katsina, Kogi, and Plateau State branches.

    The president also said the National Vice President (I), Eng. Munnir Atiku Lamido has reportedly been missing without a trace since June 2023 while travelling from Katsina to Kaduna.

    He said, “Targeted assassinations and threats to MACBAN Leadership. Several MACBAN officials committed to peace building have been assassinated, especially after cooperating with security agencies to expose criminals operating within rural communities.

    “Among those killed include, Alh. Mohammed Hussaini Chairman Nasarawa State Chapter; Surajo Mairana Chairman Katsina State Chapter, Idris Abubakar Chairman Kawara State Chapter

    “Alh. Shuaibu Suleiman Chairman Kogi State Chapter; Alh. Bello Gegu Vice Chairman Kogi State Chapter; Alh. Ibrahim Abubakar Jalido Chairman Kogi State; Muhammad Adamu Chairman Barikin Ladi LGA Plateau State; And Eng. Munnir Atiku Lamido, our National Vice President (I) has been missing without trace since June 2023 on his way from Katsina to Kaduna.

    “Many of the zones and state executives have continued to receive threats for refusing to shield criminals. Their sacrifices exposed MACBAN’s unwavering stance against violence and criminal infiltration.”

    MACBAN warned that conflating the entire pastoralist community with criminal actors reflects a misunderstanding that could fuel further stigmatization.

    MACBAN called for engagement by the U.S. Congress with “credible local actors — including pastoralists, farmers, civil society, and security agencies — in conducting assessments.”

    The group further urged evidence-based evaluation that accounts for the humanitarian toll on pastoral communities and recommended long-term investment in pastoralist infrastructure, including grazing reserves, veterinary services, water access, healthcare, and education.

    He said, “MACBAN reaffirms its dedication to peace, justice, and national unity. We will continue to work with security agencies, development partners, and governments to address the root causes of conflict and ensure that herding and farming communities coexist in safety and mutual respect.”

    MACBAN urged Nigerians and international stakeholders to stand with those who risk their lives daily, security operatives, community mediators, traditional rulers, and pastoral leaders working tirelessly to restore peace to the nation.

  • Adopt more non-kinetic means to end terrorism, banditry, MACBAN urges FG

    Adopt more non-kinetic means to end terrorism, banditry, MACBAN urges FG

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has urged the Federal Government to adopt more of non-kinetic approaches to end terrorism and banditry in the country.

    The group said that the kinetic tactics used by the military, the police and other security agencies have achieved little results.

    MACBAN’s National President, Baba Ngelzarma, said this yesterday while reading the communiqué of the group’s security summit in Abuja.

    He said: “The Federal Government has not made much inroads towards addressing the genesis of the current conflict, challenges of the Fulani cattle breeders.

    “The FG should revise and adopt a non-kinetic approach to ending banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling as the kinetic ways used over the years have only achieved very little result.”

    Ngelzarma called on President Bola Tinubu to retain the National Commission for Nomadic Education as an agency under the Ministry of Education.

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    According to him, the commission has a special mandate of providing basic education to nomadic communities in the country.

    Ngelzarma said that not retaining the commission with adequate funding to educate the children is an imminent danger to the country.

    His words: “The committee constituted to implement the recommendations of the Oransaye Report should consider as a necessity the retention of the National Commission for Nomadic Education as an agency of the Federal Ministry of Education with the specialised mandate of ensuring the delivery of functional basic education to nomadic communities.

    “This is in consideration of a research report on out-of-school children in Nigeria that eight million out of over 10 million out-of-school children in the country are pastoralists’ children.

    “Therefore, not retaining the commission with sufficient funding to educate the children is an imminent danger to our dear nation.”

  • 15,000 Pastoralists killed in 10 years, says MACBAN

    15,000 Pastoralists killed in 10 years, says MACBAN

    The Mi-Yetti Allah Cattle Breeder Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said that 15,000 Pastoralists were killed and four million of their members displaced by terrorists since 2014.

    MACBAN’s National President, Baba Othman Ngalzarmani, disclosed this at a news conference in Paikoro, where he also said four million cattle were rustled from their members within the same period.

    He explained that the Pastoralists in the North West and North Central states bore the brunt of the attacks by terrorists, even though some incidents were witnessed in other parts of the country.

    Read Also: MACBAN chides presidency, military over silence on Nasarawa airstrike

    “We are mostly affected by the activities of banditry and cattle rustling. During the period under review, no fewer than 15,000 Pastoralists were killed and four million cows were rustled,” Ngalzarmani said.

    He lamented over the way the military and vigilantes conducted their operations in some states, alleging that it has led to the killing of cows and displacement of MACBAN members.

    The President vowed to fish out bad eggs among the Pastoralists who were engaged in the use of illicit drugs and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons within their communities.

    He said that the association was making moves to interface with traders from major markets on ways to complement the government’s efforts towards reducing the effect of the food crisis across the country.

  • Nigeria spends $1.7b annually on milk importation, says MACBAN

    Nigeria spends $1.7b annually on milk importation, says MACBAN

    The Mi-Yetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said the country spends more than $1.7 billion annually on milk importation due to poor attention given to the livestock sub-sector.

    The association called for adequate budgetary allocation to boost the livestock sector of the economy to save the nation of a huge foreign exchange.

    MACBAN National President Baba Ngelzarma said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

    Ngelzarma said there was no budgetary allocation for livestock while agronomy always gained priority attention annually in terms of robust budget.

    “The livestock sector has not and never received the needed attention from the government. The only support we have got is vaccination of cow.

    “The aspects of livestock production, marketing, transportation, processing, among others, are left in the hands of the pastoralists. The entire value chain of cattle is not harnessed by the government.

    “Nigeria has the largest population of livestock compared with neighbouring countries; yet we produce lesser milk due to neglect of the sector,” he said.

    Ngelzarma noted that if the sector was accorded due attention, the nation would be the hub of milk exportation as well as other value chain in livestock.

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    The MACBAN president said cattle business in the country was doing the little it could to stimulate the economy.

    He added that when given the deserved attention, it would contribute immensely to the agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    On the state of livestock sector in the country, Ngelzarma frowned at the poor attention given to the sector by the government, saying it was not right that every attention was channeled towards the agronomy sector while issues regarding livestock were left unattended to year in year out.

    The MACBAN president urged the government to give due attention to livestock subsector of the economy to boost the nation’s foreign income.

    “If the sector is well harnessed, it can unlock a lot of employment opportunities in the country considering its huge investment, foreign exchange among others,” he said.

    Ngelzarma said it would be difficult to practise ranching in the country.

    According to him, such a model is alien to pastoralists in the country since it was borrowed from foreigners.

    The MACBAN president said the model could not suit the peculiarities of pastoralists in the country who he described as primitive, adding that they still roamed about while looking for pasture.

    He said a number of the pastoralists in the country were not educated, stressing that between 70 per cent and 80 per cent were smallholder farmers who could not afford ranching because it is capital intensive.

    According to him, they are nomadic farmers who are used to open grazing system, and lack training in modernised farming methods.

  • Ripples over Miyetti Allah’s offer to raise vigilance outfit in S’East

    The dust generated by the request for the establishment of Fulani Youth Vigilante body in communities of the South East by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, is yet to settle.

    The group made the call during a security summit in Enugu on Thursday, saying that the purpose was to compliment its host communities’ security counterparts and other constituted security apparatus in the zone.

    Reacting to the request by the umbrella body of the herders, the  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), asked the MACBAN to dump such idea.

    The Biafra agitators accused governors in the South East of conniving with the herders towards the establishment of vigilante body in the region.

    In a statement signed by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB  vowed to resist the plans, describing the governors’ seeming silence on the issue as payback for being rigged back into offices.

    The statement read in part: “I condemn in totality, both in letter and spirit the underhand agreement between South East governors and the call by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association for the establishment of Fulani  Vigilante Groups in Igboland of  Biafra.

    “Without much ado, I wish to state  that it is extremely shocking and shameful that at a time when herders have turned to terrorists and ravaging the North, Middle Belt and Yorubaland, Southeast governors allowed Miyetti Allah to get away with such demand on our soil.

    “It’s akin to telling someone in advance that you are coming to rob his house and he allowed you to just walk away, while pleading with you that you should reconsider.

    “Instead of ordering their immediate arrest on the spot for daring to so brazenly reveal their  intention to invade Igboland, the  South East Governors appear to want to accommodate their demands.

    “It defies logic that Southeast governors would care to give audience in the open in Igboland to the organisation.

    “Did the Southeast governors stop to consider that Biafran traders in the far North, even though law abiding, can never be given the audience and reverence that these Southeast governors have so shamefully extended to Miyetti Allah.

    “We are eagerly waiting for Miyetti Allah and their Fulani terror militia in Biafraland, an adventure they will regret for as long as they live.”

    Also reacting, leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Comrade Uchenna Madu condemned the request of Miyetti Allah, describing it as part of agenda to Islamize the South East.

    “For the herders to boldly issue out this sacrilegious and abominable statement is a proof that the establishment of their security vigilante is already at execution stage. They merely want to know the reactions of Ndigbo which will always be temporal noise making.”

    MASSOB warned that “until Igbo leaders recognize the potency of the pro Biafra groups and engage them in the security of lives and property of Ndigbo, Igbo land will continue to be a playing field for the devourers of our people.

    “The South West leaders have never condemned or proscribed the activities of OPC or other Oduduwa pressure groups, instead they are working with them for the general interest of Oduduwa land.

    “Even northern leaders have never done such in their zone. Igbo governors, state assembly members, senators and House of Representatives members are all cowards and political errand men.

    Read Also: Miyetti Allah leadership proposes Umahi for president in 2023

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide led by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also kicked against the request asking the that lawmakers in the zone should make laws bringing back the  Bakkasi Boys Vigilante Group o provide security in the zone.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy President and the Secretary General

    Comrade Obinnna Achionye and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, respectively, the OYC said:  ”We wish to inform our traditional rulers in the South East, that an attempt to sell any hectare of land to Miyetti Allah in the South East will bring crisis in Igbo land, We will make sure that not only that he traditional ruler in question will lose his staff of office but we will declare such a traditional ruler persona grata in the South East.

    ”We are surprised that the Miyetti Allah’s demand for the establishment of a Fulani Youth Vigilante group to compliment the effort of local vigilante group is coming at this period of rumoured fulanization agenda. We call on Ndigbo to be on the red alert. The ‘fulanization’ and neo colonization of the South East by the herdsmen is knocking on our door steps,

    ”Wake up from your slumber Ndigbo, Be prepared, and wait for any eventuality, Until the State House of Assemblies in the South East enact laws bringing back the dreaded Bakassi Boys, youths in the entire Igbo land should as a matter of urgency,  starting from Monday July 1, 2019, occupy all the state assemblies.

    “Every state House of Assembly should enact laws to establish a new vigilante group with a special mandate to fish out armed herdsmen among the cattle rearers moving across our forests on the early hours of the day.”

  • Herdsmen/Farmers’ clashes: Fed Govt meet MACBAN leaders in Kebbi

    The Federal Government delegation on Friday met with the national leaders of Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as part of efforts to curtail security challenges in the country.

    The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who led the delegation that held a closed door session with the MACBAN leaders in Birnin Kebbi said it was part of regional action plan on security challenges.

    “It is part of steps we have taken to curtail the issue of insecurity and clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    “You should not forget the fact that we have extended the meeting as a regional one when the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) hosted a conference on this.

    “These kind of issues were discussed, and part of it was to provide national action plan on security challenges and solutions by all the members of the ECOWAS Commission and to present them for consideration.

    “That is the main reason we have come to Kebbi State to dialogue with leaders of herdsmen as part of the process,’’ he said.

    Dambazau added that another aspect of the meeting was to ensure the provision of food security in the country.

    Also speaking, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, said that the issue of insecurity in the country was beyond herdsmen and farmers’ crisis.

    “The criminals have infiltrated into the crisis, and we should cooperate and deal decisively with the culprits, hence we called for this interaction.

    “Those criminals that are beyond redemption, will be dealt with and brought them to book,” Adamu said.

    In his remark, Gov. Atiku Bagudu, commended the Federal Government for selecting the state as the host on the interaction with stakeholders on national security and food sufficiency in the country.

    “This shows the seriousness of President Muhammadu Buhari administration in tackling the security challenges in the country,” said Bagudu.

    The President of MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammad Kiruwa, commended the Federal Government for sending the security delegation to interact with leaders of the association.

    “This is the first of its kind in the history of this country for a president of the country to direct his security aids to interact with an aggrieved party to air their views.

    “This meeting will serve as a foundation for peace between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers, and amongst the Fulanis themselves,” Kiruwa said.

    He assured the Federal Government of their support and cooperation in finding a lasting solution to lingering security challenges in the country.

  • Miyetti Allah calls for calms over Kaduna killings

    · Fish out killers, PDP gov candidate tells El-Rufai’s

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on all affected Fulanis to remain calm and resist all forms of provocation to consider reprisal attacks over the killings in Kajuru local government of Kaduna State last week.

    Also, Kaduna State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, called on relevant security agencies to prosecute criminals who carried out the killings.

    MACBAN and Ashiru, in their separate reactions on Monday, commended Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai for being proactive in ensuring the situation was brought under control and prevent any form of reprisal attack in the troubled area.

    The Assistant Women Leader MACBAN, Hajiya Khadijah Ardido, told reporters it was unfortunate and most painful that people were killed with reckless abandon, including women and children.

    She lamented the killings were being denied by people who have no human feelings.

    “As I speak to you now, some of the injured victims are still in the hospital. It is painful that Fulanis are being killed not only in Kaduna state but in several other parts of the country and little or nothing is being done about it.

    “The government must rise to this challenge and stop all forms of unwarranted killings, there must be respect for human lives,” she stressed.

    She went on: “Our people have always been very patient and tolerant and I am still encouraging them to remain patient, disciplined and tolerant in the face of any provocation.

    “As a mother, I am calling on my people not to revolt. Those killing should know that they are doing the wrong thing, particularly killing innocent women and children.

    “The government should ensure that proper investigation is carried out and whoever is found guilty should be made to face the full wrath of the law, at least to serve as deterrent to others now and in the future.

    “Justice must be done to the affected in the killings and the step taken by Governor Nasir el-Rufai towards bringing to justice all those who have hands in the killing is a commendable one”

    Ashiru said the incident was not only an unwanted addition to the list of the past similar ones but clear indication that insecurity still remains a huge challenge in some parts of Kaduna State.

    According to him: “It is with an absolute shock that I received the news broken by the Kaduna State Governor, of the murder of many people in some settlements in Kajuru Local Government Area of our dear Kaduna State.

    “The fact that the loss of human lives has been confirmed makes the whole issue terribly shocking. The act clearly smacks of callousness and a descent into barbarism.

    “I, therefore, wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, people of Kajuru Local Government Area as well as the Government and the entire people of Kaduna State over this unfortunate incident.

    “It is my fervent prayer that almighty who God created those souls will expose the perpetrators of the heinous act.”

    He added: “Let me quickly remind my dear good people of Kaduna State of the need to embrace peace and eschew violence so that the diversity with which Almighty God has endowed us can be harnessed for the good of all of us.

    “Our State is big, bountiful and rich enough to accommodate all of us; all we need to do is to continuously remind ourselves of the fact that resort to violence has never benefitted us as a people. In fact, such an act which results in the loss of human lives diminishes us as a people.

    “We should therefore endeavour to come together, regardless of political, religious or ethnic differences, to let the world know that we are committed to ridding our state of violence and at the same time willing to live as the true brothers and sisters that we have always been.

    “While I once again condole with the bereaved families, I also wish to re-assure everyone again that my bid to clinch the governorship of Kaduna State is driven by both an immense concern for our people and a total determination to rescue the State from misrule.“

  • Farmers/herders clashes: Buhari committed to finding lasting solutions

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja appealed for accommodation and tolerance among cattle herders and farmers throughout the country.

    Speaking at the State House while receiving the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), on a courtesy visit, the President appealed for calm among all citizens, saying that his government will give equal respect to all citizens irrespective of their ethnic, religious and geopolitical backgrounds.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “I appeal to all farmers and herders for restraint, mutual respect and tolerance for one another as people destined to live together in this great country.

    “I appeal for patience and understanding as the administration works towards lasting solutions to these conflicts.” he said

    He also urged the herders to support him in the task of bringing lasting peace to the country.

    The President called on state governors to work with the Minister of Agriculture, who he said, had been mandated to work out a solution with the states by which herders will have access to water for their livestock, and farmers will have security against destruction of their farmlands.

    Read Also; PDM backs Buhari for second term

    Attributing part of the conflict between the two groups to the climate change phenomenon and population explosion, he regretted that its politicization by selfish individuals who did not mean well for the country did not also help matters.

    He emphasized that the conflict was neither religious nor ethnic, but one that his administration has foreseen and warned about.

    He said, “Before the Benue and Taraba crises, I called the Minister of Agriculture and the Governor of Central Bank and asked them to work with the state governors on rediscovering the gazetted cattle routes, clear of farmlands that had made for peace during the First Republic.”

    President Buhari expressed strong confidence that a way around the problem will be found, working with the states which have an important role to play in finding a lasting solution.

    “Whatever it will take, I am determined to bring peace between farmers and herders. I urge you all to be patient and exercise restraint while we are working for an enduring solution,” he said.

    MACBAN, led by Alhaji Mohammed Kiruwa, informed the President that the 20-million strong body had sent the delegation to endorse his bid for a second term of office on account of the administration’s achievements in office which included, the successful clampdown on kidnapping and cattle rustling; and the fight against terrorism and corrupt elements in the society.

    Alhaji Kiruwa said President Buhari’s personal qualities of honesty, integrity and his unparalleled commitment to the unity and progress of the nation, also informed his association’s support for a renewal of his tenure.

  • MACBAN chief denies killings comment

    Chairman North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Danladi Ciroma has denied saying that people were killed in retaliation for rustled cattle.

    Ciroma said he was quoted out of context: “I never at any point in the interview made such a statement as leader of Miyetti Allah from North Central.

    “I have been a man of peace and I have always cooperated with other community leaders and security agencies to find lasting solution to the herders-farmers conflict.

    “I remember I said in the interview that there has been a level of criminality in Barkin Ladi, and I gave details of the number of cattle rustled in recent time, but I never linkede the rustling to this particular attack. I could not have done that because I am not a security man.

    “Secondly, I never said if the stolen cattle were not found, there would not be peace in Barkin Ladi. All I said was that the security agencies should take any of such report serious so as to prevent it from developing into conflicts.

    “But let me commend the Plateau state government and the security agencies for their efforts so far. They have done a lot; they only need to double their efforts, they only need to nip such attacks in the bud before they happen”

  • Anti-open grazing law will enable herdsmen’s children acquire education – Bishop

    Anti-open grazing law will enable herdsmen’s children acquire education – Bishop

    Bishop William Aveya of Gboko Catholic Diocese in Benue has said that the anti-open grazing law passed by the state government would enable children of herdsmen to acquire education.

    “Open grazing makes it impossible for the children of herdsmen to acquire education because they remain in the bush chasing cows.

    “If the herdsmen embrace ranches, the children will be less busy with the cattle and have more time for education which is very crucial to a better future,” Avenya told the news men, in Gboko on Monday.

    The herdsmen, under the aegis of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), have remained opposed to the law and have vowed to resist it.

    But Avenya said that the law would promote and protect the rights of herdsmen’s children usually denied their rights and privileges.

    “Nigeria is a signatory to many Child Right charters and conventions that seek to protect and enhance children’s welfare.

    “While other children enjoy such rights and privileges, herdsmen’s children are left behind because they are holed up in the hinterland running after cows and getting exposed to the vagaries of the environment.

    Read Also: ‘Lalong not opposed to anti- grazing law’

    “It is certainly not fair to leave the herdsmen’s children uneducated because that will denies them the privilege of exploring opportunities in life,” he said.

    He argued that cattle ranching was the best option that could provide some comfort for cattle, herders and their children, adding that cattle feeding would be improved at the ranches.

    Avenya appealed to herdsmen to accept the law as a panacea to frequent farmers/herders clashes and explore its immense benefits.

    He challenged Nigerians resident in the North-East to evolve ways of reclaiming the desert wastelands, and suggested the growing of grasses to help tackle desertification and provide pasture for cattle.

    Avenya, however, condemned the killing of innocent people by gunmen, and called on the Federal Government to encourage ranching as a way out of the frequent skirmishes.

    The Bishop said that the Church would not encourage reprisal attacks saying, saying that such action had no place in the Christian faith.

    “Instead of carrying arms in self defense, we must encourage each other to pray for the attackers so that God will arrest their spirit and purge them of such wickedness,” he said.

    NAN