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Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Miyetti Allah to Ambode: don’t demolish abattoir

    •Abattoir an eyesore, says commissioner

    The Chairman of Miyetti Allah of Nigeria, Lagos State branch, Alhaji Abdullahi Liliga, has urged the Lagos State government to rescind its decision to demolish parts of Oko-Oba in Agege.

    Liliga, who spoke at the weekend at Oko-Oba abattoir, said the government should not demolish sections of the abattoir because doing so would affect operations at the place.

    He said: “We have met the Commissioner for Agriculture Mr Toyin Suarau, on this matter. We are appealing to the government not to demolish parts of the abattoir.

    “If it carries out this action, it will be the fifth time sections of the market will be demolished. We have been operating here since 1997. We appeal to the government to have a rethink. There is no way the government can keep cows, cattle and other domestic animals here without their owners being around. We are law-abiding citizens. We pay taxes and dues regularly. We are peaceful.”

    The General-Secretary, Alhaji Mekudi Usman, said it was unfortunate that the government wanted to demolish sections of the abattoir barely a year after it carried out a similar action. The government demolished parts of the abattoir on May 14 last year. Now it wants to repeat the action. This is unfair. We beg our hardworking Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to rescind the decision.

    “The government gave us this place. Why does it want to demolish it? However, if the government insists on demolishing the place, we will move our cows and other domestic animals to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway area, for easy access.”

    Suarau told The Nation that Oko-Oba abattoir needed to be transformed because it was an eyesore.

    He said: “Oko-Oba abattoir is an eyesore compared with Ikorodu and Mushin abattoirs. We are not driving members of Miyetti Allah of Nigeria away from Oko-Oba abattoir. The Governor only wants to modernise the place, after which the people will be allowed to return.

    “In the interim, they can operate at Ikorodu and Mushin abattoirs. We are not driving them out of business. The Ambode government is for everybody, irrespective of ethnic group or religion.”

     

  • Miyetti Allah vows to fish out criminal herdsmen

    The national body of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has vowed to fish out criminal herders in Edo State.

    It said there was no need for herdsmen to destroy farmlands in Edo because of abundant grass in the state adding that they have requested to allow some of their members be part of the state government committee.

    National President (ARDON ZURU) of MACBAN, Alhaji Mohamed Kirowa, spoke in Benin City at meeting with farmers in the state convened by the State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo.

    Alhaji Kirowa whose speech was presented by Secretary General of Association, Alhaji Baba Usman, said crisis between farmers and herders in some states would have been averted if the state governors adopted the body’s initiative.

    Kirowa stated that the peace experienced in Ekiti, Katsina and Sokoto was because the governors followed their initiative.

    He assured farmers in the state that real herdsmen would not destroy their crops again.

    Kirowa told the farmers that any herdsman sighted moving freely with dangerous weapons are cattle rustlers and criminals.

    His words, “We are peace loving association that is what why we have prominent citizens as members of this association. This association has been in existence for more than 30 years. We don’t condone violence in whatever way. We are not a party to whatever form of atrocities.

    “We see the violence as being perpetrated by criminals. What a lot of people don’t know is that our members, the pastoralists are at the receiving end of most of this crisis. Our members have lost over 2 million cows to cattle rustling. Our members also suffer from hands of the kidnappers.

    “The greatest offence of the herders is the destruction of farmlands. We always spoke against night grazing. We don’t like it. Politicians have made the crisis a political ground. They take advantage of the crisis for their political end.  We must fish out criminals in our midst.

    “We suffer from them, we suffer from the kidnappers. They kill herdsmen, collect their cows and continue to move. The Media houses are not being fair us that is way their report is one sided. We have been in Edo for the past three days. We came because of what is happening across the state. We have talked with our members..

    “We have come to sensitise and told them how they should be behaving. We are not a violent association. We are a responsible association. If you respect your cows, you have to respect the farmlands of people.

    “It is our hope that things will begin to change. We are here because Governor Obaseki has concern for security. We are mediating with farmers. I am sure from now on things will begin to change. If we continue to sustain this, things will begin to change.”

    Spokesman for the Edo farmers, Osadolor Odunamen, said they would watch out to see if herdsmen in the state would obey the directive of their national body.

    Osadolor stated that it is only when the herdsmen stayed away from their farms before they would believe them and ensure peaceful co-existence.

    Kokumo on his part said the meeting was to ensure that herdsmen are made to be law-abiding.

  • North’s governors hold talks with Miyetti Allah

    The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has held a meeting with the national leadership and state chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as part of efforts to resolve the continued clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    The meeting, which held in Sokoto, was attended by the NGF chairman and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, host Governor Aminu Tambuwal and their counterparts from Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje) and Kaduna (Nasir El-Rufai).

    Though no formal communiqué was issued after the meeting, reports showed that the gathering discussed genesis of the crisis, efforts to contain it and how to entrench permanent a solution.

    Shettima said the 19 northern states are worried by the rising insecurity involving herdsmen and farmers. He hoped that their intervention will help in resolving the conflicts.

    According to Shettima, the governors are adopting a local-conflict resolution mechanism to bring back trust and understanding among the people to complement the Federal Government’s efforts.

    He said: “We have seen enough crises in the Northeast. We cannot afford to allow other conflict linger without a solution. We hope to hear from all sides and finally come up with a workable plan that will restore confidence and entrench lasting peace in our region.”

    A source said of MACBAN’s stand: “The leadership of Miyetti Allah, led by the National President, Muhammed Kirowa, told the meeting that the approach to conflict resolution adopted by political leaders in some states is not helpful.

    “In his views, political leaders, especially governors, should approach issues of peace in a neutral perspective, not as a biased party. He said their members have lived in many of these conflict-prone communities for centuries without conflict, but wondered why the situation is getting out of hand now.”

    Reports said though no resolution was reached at the meeting, a new round of discussion will be scheduled for Abuja, Jos, Makurdi and Kaduna in the coming weeks and months.

  • Killings: North’s governors begin talks with Miyetti Allah

    The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has held a meeting with the national leadership and state chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as part of efforts to find lasting solutions to the continued clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    The meeting, which held in Sokoto, was attended by the NGF chairman and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, host Governor Aminu Tambuwal and their counterparts from Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje) and Kaduna (Nasir El-Rufai).

    Though no formal communiqué was issued after the meeting, reports showed that the gathering discussed genesis of the crisis, efforts to contain it and how to entrench permanent a solution.

    Shettima said the 19 northern states are worried by the rising insecurity involving herdsmen and farmers. He hoped that their intervention will help in finding lasting solutions to the conflicts.

    According to Shettima, the governors are intervening to complement the Federal Government’s efforts by adopting a local-conflict resolution mechanism to bring back trust and understanding among the people.

    He said: “We have seen enough crises in the Northeast with Boko Haram. We cannot afford to allow other conflict linger without a solution. We hope to hear from all sides and finally come up with a workable plan that will restore confidence and entrench lasting peace in our region.”

    A source said of MACBAN’s stand: “The leadership of Miyetti Allah, led by the National President, Muhammed Kirowa, told the meeting that the approach to conflict resolution adopted by political leaders in some states is not helpful in finding lasting peace.

    “In his views, political leaders, especially governors, should approach issues of peace in a neutral perspective, not as biased party. He said their members have lived in many of these conflict-prone communities for centuries without conflict, but wondered why the situation getting out of hand now.”

    Reports said though no resolution was reached at the Sokoto meeting, a new round of discussion will be scheduled for Abuja, Jos, Makurdi and Kaduna in the coming weeks and months.

  • Miyetti-Allah denies involvement in Kogi killings

    •‘Anti open-grazing law is unfavourable’

    The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Organisation has denied involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent killings in Kogi State.

    Its National Secretary, Salleh Al-Hassan, who spoke during an interview at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the Fulani were murdered by members of the Kogi State Vigilance groups for killings done by criminals.

    He blamed the unlawful killing of Fulani on unnecessary labelling of his members as being responsible for all insecurity cases in the country. But he said his members were not involved in the Kogi killings.

    Al-Hassan accused the media of unfair reportage of the issue, saying Benue killings were allegedly perpetrated by political thugs loyal to the governor.

    He said: “They tag every form of insecurity now to the herdsmen. But when you go and look at the police report, you won’t find it like that. Look at the recent incident in Kogi, criminals killed vigilance leaders and the following day, youth members of the group descended on Fulani and killed them. But nobody is reporting that side of the story.

    “Insecurity in Nigeria is largely the responsibility of government, but is has failed to provide security, particularly in the rural areas. And some governors have now resorted to outsourcing our security to vigilance groups, made up of criminals and political thugs…”

  • Miyetti-Allah denies involvement in Kogi killings

    Says Anti Open-Grazing law is unfavorable  

     

     

    Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Organisation has denied involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent killings that occurred in Kogi State.

    National Secretary of the association, Engr. Salleh Al-hassan, who spoke during an interview at the Federal High Court, yesterday in Abuja alleged that Fulani people were murdered by members of Kogi State Vigilante groups for killings that were carried out by criminals.

    He blamed the unlawful killings of Fulanis on unnecessary labelling of his members as being responsible for all insecurity cases in the country but his members were not involved in the Kogi killings.

    He accused the media of unfair reportage stressing that Benue killings were allegedly perpetrated by political thug to the Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom.

    Al-Hassan said: “They tag every form of insecurity now to the herdsmen. But when you go and look at the police report you won’t find it like that. Look at the recent incident in kogi, criminals killed vigilante leader and the following day youths that are members of the vigilante descended on Fulani people and started killing them and nobody is reporting that side of the story.

    “The Fulani people are killed in every corner and because there is this gang up and media Propaganda profiling and stereotyping us.

    “The issue of insecurity in Nigeria is largely the responsibility of government, they have failed to provide security particularly in the rural areas and some governors now have resulted to outsourcing our security to vigilante groups who are made up of criminals and political thugs. They have now assumed a live of their own by killing people even their own. Most of the killings in Benue State were done by Gana who is a political tug that was working for Governor Samuel Ortom and he is still at large in spite of the police and military we have there.”

    According to him, State Governors have taken advantage of Federal Government’s inability to provide security at rural areas stressing that it was outsourced to states to vigilante groups, allegedly made up of political thugs and other criminal elements.

    He complained about the delay in the delivery of justice in the cased between his organisation and Benue State Government at the Federal High Court, which has lasted over a year.

    The case was adjourned till 23rd May, 2018.

    He claimed the delay in justice was handwork of wicked and desperate politicians citing Ortom as an instance.

    According to him, the governor was attempting to take advantage of the farmers/herders crisis to secure his second-term bid.

    “Why is Gana still at large and not arrested, he led the killings in Vandakia. Even the latest killing is attached to the militia he is leading. Today the livestock guard is headed by on Ali Tishako a retired Boko Haramist and not arrested up till now and the Governor is using him as head of livestock guard.

    “Look at the number of killings they have done to the Fulani people, 727 in Mambila Plateau not a single person was arrested. A local Government Chairman and Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly were fingered there and nobody was arrested. He is guilty of that massacre and he is still walking free. In Jere here they killed 87 Fulani people there and even in Numan. Nobody is arrested

    “Today, one year now we took our case to the federal High court because we don’t like that law Ortom put in place, one year ago, we have not gotten justice. Somebody is deliberately trying to push the Fulani people into rebellion.

    “I see it as an agenda by very wicked desperate politicians. Look at Governor Ortom 14 months without paying salaries and pensions and no single physical project. His only political project is to demonise the herders for him to get re-election. It is open, it is a propaganda they go and do ceremonial burials of empty caskets.” He added.

    Earlier, President of the socio-cultural group, Bello Bodejo said the anti-grazing law of the Benue state was unfavourable to the herders but supported the cattle colony recommended by the federal government.

    He noted that it restore peace among farmers and herders.

    “The federal government has many ways to address the problem. The anti-grazing law says they can’t sell land for Fulanis instead they will hire the land to Fulanis for one year. They can do the cattle colony and we will accept it. We have our own practice like the cattle colony before now, but the difference is just the name given to it. We appeal to the federal government to give us cattle colony but we don’t need this anti-grazing law because it is not favourable to us.

    “We have lost almost 40, 000 cattle. The problem is that the Fulani men do not have access to media, if they tell you what has happened to them you will just cry.” He added

     

  • Three herdsmen convicted for violating ranching law –Ortom

    Three herdsmen convicted for violating ranching law –Ortom

    Buhari visit Benue Monday

    Three herdsmen have been convicted in Benue State for violating the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

    Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this while addressing party officials and council chairmen during the State Working Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    He stated that over hundred had been arrested for contravening the law, stressing that assurances had also been given by security agents to help enforce implementation of the ranching law.

    The Governor said Fulani herdsmen who were causing insecurity in the country were enemies of the APC and all Nigerians, even as he called for the arrest and prosecution of leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and other Fulani leaders for their inflammatory statements

    Governor Ortom acknowledged the support of the party to his administration especially at its trying moment, assuring that he would not betray the confidence it had reposed in him.

    Read Also: Herdsmen/farmers clashes: Oyo in search of peace

    He tasked the APC on the rule of law, respect for the party’s constitution and the use of dialogue in addressing issues including primaries, saying doing so would reduce acrimony among party members and their supporters.

    The Governor also told the party’s working committee that issues of irregular payment of salaries were being addressed with improved federal allocation to states.

    He officially broke the news of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Benue next Monday to commiserate with people of the state over herdsmen attacks and massacre of Benue people.

    Earlier in a welcome address, State Chairman of APC, Comrade Abba Yaro pledged continued support of the party to the Ortom-led administration, adding that his residence and steadfastness in the wake of herders attacks was commendable.

     

  • Miyetti Allah canvases for peace with South East communities

    Miyetti Allah canvases for peace with South East communities

    Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), South-east zone met in Enugu on Sunday and assured South-Easterners of peaceful co-existence between them and their host communities.

    They also assured that the Fulani herdsmen have no grudges with the south-east states and dispelled the rumors that the herdsmen were planning to attack Anambra and Enugu states.

    At a meeting the association held weekend in Enugu, the zonal chairman, Gidado Sadiq in an address to participant drawn from the five south-east states regretted that the presence of a Fulani man was regarded as a threat to any community.

    He solicited that the Fulani man should be regarded as any Nigerians who can freely go to anywhere and perform his business. The group explained that they were  in the southeast states to look for greener pastures to feed their cattle.

    “We are not here to terrorize anyone, but we’re scared of people coming under the guise of the Fulani herdsmen to unleashed terror on our hosts. We advise our members to be watchful and report to us any strange face around them. We also implore the general public to be vigilant and not to allow anyone to destroy the peaceful co-existence we are enjoying,” stressed the group.

    The group was full of praises of the governors of the south-east, saying that the governors are peace-loving people. “We wanted our host communities to appreciate the efforts by the governors of the states.

    The governors are peace loving people and I continue to confess that  if other governors in other regions can emulate the footsteps of the governors of the South East, particularly those of Enugu and Anambra states, there will be no confrontation between cattle herdsmen and farmers.

    “Everybody should be given a fair judgment.  If a Fulani man allows his cattle to destroy people’s farm, he should be punished based on the offense he committed or paid adequate compensation to the farmer. In the other hand, if a cow was killed by a farmer or anybody from the community, the person will pay the value of the cow that he killed, and anybody who did wrong, whether it is a Fulani man or a native, he will be identified through his leaders.

    “We also warn our members to be very careful with the farmer’s crops and when they are migrating from one state to the other, they should inform the States leaders where they are passing through. We warn our members to stop crossing across the border of a state and destroy and run back to another state. More especially people usually come from Ebonyi state to destroy farms in Enugu and run back to Ebonyi state likewise those from Enugu go to Ebonyi and run back to Enugu”, Sadiq admonished.

  • Fulani groups divided over Kano gov’s offer on cattle breeding

    Fulani groups divided over Kano gov’s offer on cattle breeding

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association yesterday welcomed the open invitation  of the Kano State government to cattle breeders to relocate to the state for the purpose of continuing their business.

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had said earlier in the week that he is ready to accommodate as many cattle breeders as possible in the Falgore Forest for their business.

    Spokesman of the  Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ngelzama Usman, described the gesture as a welcome development, although it does not sit well with the Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association, a vibrant offshoot of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN).

    Secretary General of the  Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association, Alhaji Saleh Bayari, said the offer is neither feasible nor acceptable because the Fulani,like other Nigerians, have a right to live and do business in any part of the country.

    He said restricting them to one corner of the country is an infringement on their right.

    The Fulani in Enugu State are also not disposed to leaving the state for Kano or any other part of the country.

    Their spokesman, Alhaji Sanusi Sambo, said they are at home in Enugu because the people and government of Enugu State are very hospitable and have created a  conducive atmosphere  for them to operate their businesses.

    Usman, speaking on the phone, told The Nation that Falani are peace-loving people.

    His words: “It is a welcome development because at a time when some people are chasing our members  out of their states, some other governors are opening wide their hands and embracing our members.

    “This is not coming from  Kano State alone. Even the governor of Kogi State  has also opened  the door to our members. This goes to show that our members are not terrorists.  Our members are peace-loving people who are going round the country doing their legitimate business.

    “They move with their cows which are their only source of livelihood together with their wives and children.

    “You don’t  expect a pastoralist who moves about with his family and only source of livelihood to go about fomenting trouble.

    “This is the narrative we want the media to be passing on. What is going on in the media is against our members, but we are happy now that the media is trying to balance the whole thing.

    “We really appreciate the governor of Kano State and hope that other governors will also do the same.”

    In a separate interview, Alhaji Bayari said: “We are quite appreciative of his (Ganduje’s) concern for our people, but if we all continue on that note, we will not have a country.

    “We will not have a country, or a nation because it simply means that tomorrow, when you harass some Yoruba  who have  been living in Jos for generations, or some Igbo  living in Kano or Sokoto, their state governors will just tell them to relocate.

    “Then, at the end of the day, we would have as many countries as the number of tribes that we have in Nigeria and that would not augur well for us as a country.

    “By following Governor Ganduje’s directive, we are going to end up polarizing the country on the basis of sentiments rather than nationalistic feelings and callings.”

    Spokesman of the  Miyetti Allah in Enugu  State, Alhaji Sanusi Sambo, said: “As you can see many of us were born here. Many are inheriting the cattle business from their fathers.

    “We cannot just relocate to another place. Even though in Kano we may be meeting our people, it will take us long to get used to them.”

  • Nasarawa killings: Miyetti Allah wants FG to deploy military to border towns

    Nasarawa killings: Miyetti Allah wants FG to deploy military to border towns

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Nasarawa State Chapter, has called for the deployment of military to border towns between Nasarawa and Benue, to curtail the incessant attacks on the area.

    MACBAN’s state chairman, Mohammed Hussaini, who made the call in an interview with newsmen on Saturday, said measure would bring the situation under control.

    He attributed the spill over of the attacks and killings in border towns to the anti open grazing law being enforced by the Benue Government.

    “Since this thing started, we have been under attacks by armed militia groups, in which lots of our people were killed, some are still missing.

    “A lot of cows belonging to our members were killed and many other rustled in some of these attacks.

    “The lives of our members are also being threatened in all the border towns; so the federal government should come to our aid by deploying the military to the affected areas,” he said.

    Hussaini said the security agencies should investigate and arrest the criminal elements responsible for the attacks and bring them to justice.

    He noted that there were criminal elements in every tribe, and cautioned against the quick generalization tribes when a crime was committed.

    “A criminal is a criminal whether he or she is Igbo, Hausa, Eggon or Fulani, but why generalize the Fulanis when some of them commit any crime?” he asked.

    He blamed the media for its antagonistic reports on Fulanis, saying “ these are some of the factors that fuel crisis”.

    The Chairman commended the Nasarawa state government and heads of security agencies in the state for the proactive steps they took in handling security matters. (NAN)