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Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Gowon calls for end of killings

    Former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has expressed sadness at the security situation in the country, particularly the killing of innocent unarmed villagers by armed herdsmen, which has continued unabated.

    Gen. Gowon, who said he is disappointed at the handling of the security situation called on the security agencies to invite and question the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who had threatened to unleash violence on Benue State and later justified the killings for their role in it.

    He spoke on Saturday at the  Government House, Makurdi when he visited Governor Samuel Ortom to commiserate with him, the government and people of the state on the killings in the state.

    The former Head of State who said he was out of the country when 2 priests and 17 worshipers were killed in a church in the state during morning mass expressed the condolences of his group, “Nigeria Prays” to the government and people of Benue state.

    Gen. Gowon said he is sad and worried at the religious dimension the killings is assuming and called on the authorities to redouble their effort to deal with the security situation; warning that if that is not done, the country could descend into a religious war, with no one coming out victorious.

    Read Also: Killings: Gowon wants Buhari to deal with culprits

    The former Head of State who commended Governor Ortom and the Benue State government for its admirable handling of issues concerning the killings and devastation of communities said that for us to survive as a nation; we must learn to live together as one regardless of ethnicity or religion.

    Welcoming the elder statesman, Governor Ortom, represented by his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu thanked him for coming to commiserate with them and adding his voice to the call on the federal government to take decisive actions to end the orgy of violence plaguing  the state and the country.

    He said the magnitude and frequency of the killings and devastation of communities have defied every logic with over 185,000 people internally displaced, and living in camps; far away from their ancestral lands and their farms.

    He disclosed that though the killings in the state have come down a little due to the change of tactics by the military who upgraded their operation in the state from “exercise cat race” to “operation whirl stroke”, the threat is not yet over as killings still go on in many places.

    He said that the country is at cross roads, with complaints coming from all sections of the nation state. According to him, the present structure of the Nigerian federation is sick and defective; and in need of injection which must be given intravenously for reasons of its urgency.

    Governor Ortom said he agrees with the calls for restructuring, explaining that restructuring would eliminate many of the contradictions and imbalances that have limited the capacity of the federating states to flourish and maximise the benefit of their existence.

    Gen Gowon was billed to attend a church programme in the state and commission some projects executed by Evangelist Ogewu David of Divine Oracle Ministry.

  • Miyetti-Allah members agree to stop grazing animals in Plateau varsity premises

    Members of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Friday agreed to stop grazing their animals in the premises of Plateau State University (PLASU) Bokkos.

    The association gave the pledge during a meeting it held with Operation Safe Haven, Bokkos Command and the Management of Plateau State University.

    Present at the meeting were the MACBAN Vice Chairman, Isa Idris, represented by Sale Yusuf Adam, Operation Safe Haven, Bokkos Command, represented by Lt. Paul Asoh and the Chief Security Officer of PLASU, Mr Istifanus Kurtong, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Yohanna Izam.

    The trio agreed on zero tolerance for day and night cattle grazing on the premises of the university.

    Idris, the MACBAN representative, pledged his members’ resolve to stick to the agreement reached at the meeting.

    He said “we will ensure that our members do not trespass into the premises of PLASU.”

    The PLASU vice chancellor, who described the agreement as “landmark’’ to the institution, added that “the activities of herdsmen had been disturbing, as they usually break through the university fence to graze their cattle both during the day and night.

  • No plan to attack Cross River community – Miyetti Allah

    The Cross River State Branch of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has debunked rumours that Fulani herdsmen were planning to attack residents of Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River.

    The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Hassan Abo, who spoke with our reporter on Wednesday in Calabar, described the rumour as “devilish and wicked’’.

    Abo said that cattle breeders in Obanliku had been living peacefully with residents of the local government over the years, adding that the unity should not be destroyed with fake rumour.

    “It is not true that Fulani herdsmen are planning to attack any community in Obanliku Local Government or any other area in the state.

    “As an umbrella body of the breeders association, we want to state clearly that we are peace loving people, residing here in Cross River State.

    “We urge government and the security agencies to bring any one found wanting to book. I want to applaud Gov. Ben Ayade for his efforts in protecting lives and property of all residents in the state.

    Alhaji Yusuf Usman, the Chief Imam of Obudu Mosque, a nearby local government to Obanliku, told our reporter in a telephone interview that the rumour got to them late on July 17.

    Read Also: ‘Nobody should destabilise Cross Rivers’

    Usman said that the information, which had caused panic in the area, had reduced the distance breeders go with their cattle to search for pasture.

    “Due to the rumour, we are now scared. Some cattle breeders can no longer move freely because members of the community are now seeing them as their enemies.

    “The rumour that Fulani herdsmen are planning to attack them is false. Obudu and Obanliku Local Governments are very close and I want to state clearly that we have no such plan against our host communities.

    “I wish to assure the state government and security agencies that we will not allow breakdown of law and order from our members in this area,’’ he said.

    The Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, also said that the rumour was false.

    “The state police command and the security adviser to Gov. Ayade have been on alert since we received the information.

    “The information is not true.  It is a rumour. People should stop peddling such fake rumours. I am very happy that the area is calm and peaceful.

    “I want to advise people to turn away from spreading such rumours because it will not do us any good,’’ he said.

    A resident of Obanliku, Mr Paul Achu, told our reporters on telephone that the rumour caused panic in the area, adding however, that his community was safe with people going about their normal businesses.

    NAN

  • Southeast Miyetti Allah calls for peace

    The Miyetti -Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the South East has called for peace among the warring groups in the north, following the massacre in Plateau State, where many people have lost their lives.

    The South East Chairman of the body, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, in a statement yesterday in Awka, Anambra State capital, made available to The Nation, said killing one another would only take the country to destruction.

    He claimed that over 500 of their members, who do their businesses in the South East, had lost their lives since 2016 on a business trip to the north, adding that the people should sheathe their swords and embrace peace.

    Siddiki said he believed that the crisis in the north could be as a result of lack of proper coordination, adding that members of the group in the South East were not facing such problems because there was proper coordination.

    The statement reads, “I wish to dispel the notion that the present crisis in Plateau is exclusively caused by Fulani herdsmen and targeted at the Christian population alone

    “Evidences abound that the Berom militia mounted road blocks at vintage locations and molested whoever they counted an enemy, Christian or Muslim.

    “The Muslim community has lost so much in the conflagrations. Statistics show  that from 2016 till date, our business men here in the South East have lost more than 500 persons in the Plateau, Benue and Taraba crises on their way either to the North to South East.

    “As optimists, we believe that the troubles we face today would soon be history and the normalcy that ensured communality amongst Nigerians would resume its course,” Siddiki said.

  • We will not tolerate Cattle Ranches in Southwest – Afenifere

    The Pan-Yoruba socio cultural organization, Afenifere has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed cattle ranches in the six states of the South West geo-political zone and other Yoruba speaking states.

    It said the proposed plan is an imperialist agenda aimed at cresting Federal Cattle Territories across Nigeria .

    At its monthly meeting held on Tuesday at the residence of its leader, Chief  Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State, the group cautioned the federal government against imposing any harsh policy on the nation.

    In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by the national publicity secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said  cattle rearing is a private business.

    It insisted that the Government has no business getting involved if there was no sinister.

    The Yoruba leaders said “no plot of land in Yoruba land will be available for such cattle ranch and no Governor should cede any land for such.”

    Read Also: Fasanmi to Afenifere: ignore Obasanjo

    “We are devastated  by the genocide that took place in Plateau State on Sunday in which  over 200 deaths occurred by eyewitnesses accounts, but the police admitted 100.

    “These wanton killings and official irresponsibility portrays Nigeria as a barbaric entity and we Yoruba people are pained living in the same space with the bestial elements who kill innocent people in cruel manner.

    “The images of little children killed mercilessly with open skulls make anyone with human blood flowing in his or her veins to shrink. We are further distressed that the response of President Muhammadu Buhari to the murder of hundreds of our citizens did not attract a word of sympathy or regret.

    “It is very infuriating that the President’s response and that of Miyetti Allah appeared to have been authored from the same laptop.The Chairman of North Central zone of Miyetti Allah, Danladi Ciroma said the attacks were a retaliation for the loss of three hundred cows.

    ” The President used the word “thugs”  thrice to describe protesting residents while admitting that  human life was becoming “increasingly cheap ” under his watch without  saying what he is doing to make it worthy or
    bring the herdsmen who have admitted killing people to book .He also repeated the blame game of “desperate people “causing instability and chaos” in furtherance of the vain attempt by the administration to divert
    attention from Fulani herdsmen responsible for the serial murders.

    “Politically, Nigerians must now gird  their loins and see the democratic uprooting of this administration as a task that must be done in 2019 so as to save the the country from utter destruction .There is no land where the blood of the innocent is being shed  daily like Nigeria  that can make progress in any area of human endeavour”.

    The Yoruba group also reiterated its call for the restructuring of the country, saying no meaningful development can take place with the present composition of the country.

  • ‘Blame FUNAM, Miyetti Allah for jihad statement’

    The Benue State government has said the Jama’atul Nasir Islam (JNI) should blame the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM); Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association (MACBAN) for its statements on Jihad.

    A statement by the Secretary-General of JNI, Dr Abubakar Khalid Aliyu, accused Governor Samuel Ortom of attributing the herdsmen attacks to a continuation of the late Usman Danfodio’s jihad.

    But the government described JNI’s statement as “inappropriate and designed to instigate religious hatred towards the governor”.

    A statement by it said: “We read in newspapers, the statement credited to the headquarters of Jama’atul Nasir Islam, JNI regarding the reported comments of Governor Samuel Ortom on attacks in the state, and we find it necessary to put the matter in its proper context.

    “In the statement, Secretary-General of JNI, Dr Abubakar Khalid Aliyu, accused Governor Ortom of attributing the herdsmen attacks to a continuation of the late Usman Danfodio’s jihad. This statement is inappropriate and designed to instigate religious hatred towards the governor.

    “The impression being created by the organisation that Ortom attacked the leadership of Nigerian Muslims in his comments is misleading and a deliberate attempt to cast the governor in a bad light before Muslims.

    “In the interview under reference, Governor Ortom only quoted the threats by leaders of FUNAM, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association, who had addressed news conferences and said the attacks on Benue State were a jihad and struggle for the control of natural resources in the Benue Valley. The groups also vowed that there would be more bloodshed in Benue State.

    “Governor Ortom, who referred to such statements, reiterated his call for the arrest of the leadership of the groups to prevent further killings in the state. He also used the programme to draw the attention of security agencies to the inflammatory statements made by the groups, vowing to wage a jihad and mobilise their members to invade Benue and resist implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

    “The governor has respect for the leadership of JNI and other Muslims, and would not have attacked the religion. We reject and condemn this negative branding of the governor by JNI.

    “Since assuming office, Governor Ortom has embraced and encouraged all religious groups, especially the Muslim community, as evident in the cordial relationship between the government and leadership of the Islamic faith. It is, therefore, strange that the headquarters of NJI has chosen to assault the governor’s reputation on a matter which has verifiable evidence unconnected with him.

    “Governor Ortom has demonstrated statesmanship and focus in handling security challenges in the state, and he appreciates the contributions of stakeholders, particularly religious leaders, towards the return of peace to state.”

     

     

     

  •  Save us from Irigwe, Berom armed men, Miyetti Allah cries out

    The Plateau State chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has asked the Plateau State Government as well as the federal government to protect them against armed Irigwe and Berom youths who they said were determined to wipe them out of the state.

    The state chairman of the Fulani group, Alhaji Nuru Muhammed, made the call in a statement he issued in Jos yesterday.

    Muhammed alleged that the Irigwe and Berom youths had armed themselves and had been going about the bush to hunt for Fulani people and cows and had killed more than 500 cows belonging to the Fulani.

    He expressed surprise that the “organised crime” which he said had been going on for two months, was yet to draw the attention of security agencies while the herdsmen in the state remained unprotected and vulnerable.

    The statement reads: “With great sense of responsibility, we the Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Plateau State Chapter vehemently want to show our total dismay and overwhelming shock over the recent happenings in Miango chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area and Fan district of B/Ladi Local Government Area and their environs.

    “The Beroms and Irigwe militias have resorted to rampant attacks, killings of herders and rustling of cows. What baffled us is the repeated killing of these cows.

    “The Miango chiefdom genocide and the Fan District’s Berom massacre crusade is becoming one too many.

    “Having gone unpunished for the previous mass killings of hundreds of the sedentary pastoralists last years and early this year has given them the courage to re-plan and execute their nefarious activities.

    “The Irigwe and Berom tribesmen conspired with some politicians and highly placed personalities in attacking and killing Fulani and their herds of cows and destroying properties.

    “On Monday 20th May 2018, the Irigwe militia group from Ancha village, holding sophisticated firearms, lunched an attack on cattle and their rearers who escaped by a whisker.

    “But 63 cows and 9 sheep were fired to death without any reason or provocation. The cows belong to Alhaji Rago Ishaq, Sani Ishaq and Yakubu Ishaq.

    “They have been rampaging from one area to another, looking for where they will locate cows or kill Fulani.

    “This nasty experience reoccurs in Kinat and Tukur villages general area of Mangu LGA on 21/5/2018, where Beroms attacked cattle at home in the evening, fired at them, killed over 50 and looted the meat without any provocation.

    “While looting the meat, they cordoned the area with heavy fire arms.

    “They were able to fight the Nigerian Army under Operation Save Haven and defeated them and pack the whole killed cows.

    “That these hoodlums are holding more sophisticated firearms than that of the military. Therefore, they took to their heels.

    “The approach of silent and systematic killing of Fulani herdsmen in the remote areas of Miango chiefdom in Bassa LGA and Fan district in B/ladi LGA are still alarming despite the efforts of the government and security agencies to maintain the fragile peace in the state.

    “In Fan District of B/Ladi Local Government, for instance, on the 9th April, 2018, 93 cows belonging to Iliyasu Guda Gidado were rustled from Nding village into Fan district. None of the cows has been recovered.

    “On 6th may, 2018, 166 cows were rustled from Mangun Halle village of Mangu LGA into Fan District of B/ladi LGA by the Berom militia group. All effort to recover the cows were in vain.

    “In Miango Chiefdom of Bassa LGA, on 20th April, 2018, 56 cows belonging to Adamu Buba and Dauda Adamu were rustled from Kwachudu village of Miango District into the chiefdom, whose leaders said categorically in a media interview that the cows had crossed into their area.

    “As a result, one person was arrested and he has confess and mentioned five others who are yet to be arrested.”

  • Miyetti Allah leaders to Buhari: Call Ortom to order

    ….Say they’re not terrorists

     

    Leadership of Fulani Pastoralist groups Friday rose from an emergency meeting in Kaduna, calling on President Muhammadu to call Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to order over the anti-open grazing law in that state.

    These groups reiterated that, they would do everything legally possible to resist such law that is against their culture, movement and economic interests.

    Their position was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejor, his Secretary, Engr Saleh Alhassan and Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee,  Garus Gololo.

    The communiqué read in part, “that we condemned the call by some desperate and jobless groups under the leadership of one Ariyo Atoye a jobless youth parading the streets of Abuja looking for crumbs from corrupt Politicians agitating for the profiling and stigmatisation of Fulani Pastoralist in Nigeria.

    Read Also:Killings: Court asked to declare Miyetti Allah terrorists

    “We urged the Attorney General to ignore their letter as they are hired agents by a sinking Governor who is notorious for funding and arming militia groups causing havoc to the Fulani Pastoralist in the Benue Valley.

    “We totally reject the repressive and oppressive ‘Anti-open Grazing Law’ as it is fundamentally going against our culture, economic interest and constitutional rights and will deploy all the necessary legal means as enshrined in our constitution to challenge it.

    “Consequently, we affirmed our support and solidarity for the legal action taken by the Miyetti Allah Kautal HoreFulani Socio- cultural Association to challenge the negative Benue anti- grazing law at the Federal High Court Abuja.

    “That Pastoralists, like all citizens of Nigeria, have the right to move freely and to reside in any part of the country. They also have a right to own property in any part of the country and enjoy the right of freedom from discrimination like any other citizen of the country.

    “We call on the National Assembly to leave up to their responsibility because the inter-state movement of pastoralists is analogous to inter-state commerce, which is an exclusive preserve of the legislative powers of the National Assembly under item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List. To this effect, any action taken by a state Assembly is in conflict with above section of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    “We are calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Inspector General of Police, The Senate President, The Speaker of The House of Representatives and Our Royal Fathers to call the Benue state Governor to order as his actions and continuous threat to the leadership of the Fulani Pastoralists by the governor is a serious threat to peaceful coexistence.

    “That we appreciates the efforts being put by the Federal and States governments in addressing the security challenges facing the Fulani Pastoralist particularly cattle rustling , kidnapping and banditry.

    “That we totally condemn the attempt to profile the Fulani race and urge the press should investigate the veracity of their stories before going to press.

    “Finally, we are appealing to His Excellency President Mohammadu Buhari to Call the H.E Governor Samuel Ortom to order as his actions are a fundamental threat to peaceful coexistence and food security in Nigeria.”

    The representatives of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Funali Socio- cultural Association, Tabital Pulaaku Nigeria Chapter, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mobgal Fulbe Development Association, Gam Allah Fulani Development Association, Fulani Title Holders Association, Pastoral Resolve (PARE), Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association attended that meeting.

  • Ten feared killed in herdsmen attack in Kogi

    Ten people were feared killed suspected Fulani herdsmen in the early hours of Monday attacked two communities in Ilu-Ajo, Kogi West, killing 10 people.

    A version of the reports had it that the herdsmen invaded two Tiv settlements in the outskirts of Mopamuro and Ido-Gbedde in Ijumu LG, around 4am.

    A source close to the sole administrator of Ijumu LGA, Alhaji Taifiq Isah, however told The Nation that only one person died from an attack by suspected Fulani herdsman.

    According to the source, trouble started when the Fulani, whose honey was allegedly stolen, accused a resident of one of the communities, but that the latter denied having a hand in the theft, leading to the launching of an attack that culminated in the killing.

    Another version had it that armed herdsmen in a surprise attack invaded the two communities, and opened fire on the people, killing 10.

    Read Also: Killings: Court asked to declare Fulani herdsmen, Miyetti Allah terrorists

    The administrator of Mopamuro LGA, Moses Sunday David condemned the attack by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    He was quoted as saying, “I am surprised that the attack came barely a week after we had a peace/security meeting at the Elulu’s palace to forestall this kind of unfortunate occurrence”.

    In a spot assessment of the damage, the administrator in company of his Ijumu counterpart, Taofiq Isah, said “We shall work with the security agencies to see that we rejig the security architecture to see that people and properties are safe”.

    The council boss said that he had contacted relevant government agencies, just as he assured the people of the readiness of the government to ensure that the menace does not reoccur.

    When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRI), Mr. William Ayah, said that the command was yet to receive any report from any of the affected communities, nor was he aware of the incident.

  • Killings: Court asked to declare Miyetti Allah terrorists

    The Federal High Court, Abuja has been asked to proscribe activities of  Fulani herdsmen, declare them and their group,  Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, as a terrorists’ organisation.

    The request formed part of prayers in a suit filed by a lawyer, Matthew Nyiutsa, against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The plaintiff, in a motion ex-parte filed along with the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS499/2018, seeks the court’s leave to apply for an order of mandamus, compelling the defendants -AGF and the President to act on the activities of the Fulani herdsmen.

    Primary, the plaintiff wants the court to compel the defendants to prohibit all activities of Fulani herdsmen in Benue State that have resulted in the deliberate and intentional killings, massacre, wanton destruction of both private and public properties, including residential and commercial houses, schools, hospitals, clinics, markets, water boreholes and reservoirs.

    Nyiutsa also wants the court to order the defendants to apply to a competent court to declare Fulani herdsmen’s alleged invasion of ancestral lands of the inhabitants of Benue State as acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended.

    The plaintiff stated, in a supporting affidavit, that he resides in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue Sate.

    He said he is one of the numerous victims of continuing Fulani herdsmen attacks on communities in Benue State.

    The plaintiff further stated, in the affidavit, that he has suffered substantial injury from Fulani herdsmen attacks since 2014 to date.

    He said, in 2014, nine of his family members were killed by armed Fulani herdsmen including another 24 of his family members who were killed by Fulani herdsmen on January 1, 2018 at Tom-atar.

    The plaintiff attached what he described as copies of death reports made by coroners and medical practitioners and the programme for the mass burial of the deceased victims of the attacks by Fulani herdsmen.

    Nyiutsa prayed the court,  among others, to declare that the series of armed attacks, particularly from January 1, 2018 to May, 2018 on inhabitants of communities in Guma, Logo, Makurdi, Gwer-East, Buruku, Tarka, Katsina-Ala and Ukum local government areas of Benue State by Fulani herdsmen, using sophisticated weapons like AK- 47 automatic riffles, resulting in the death of over 200 persons, destruction of both private and public properties like residential houses, hospitals ,clinics, churches, schools, bridges, markets worth billions of naira as acts of terrorism.