Miyetti Allah: We Are Ready To ‘Stop’ Bandits, Kidnappers, Others

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has said it is ready to cooperate with the government to tackle the ongoing insecurity challenges in the country.

The herders union acknowledge that kidnappers, bandits and cattle rustlers have put the nation in a bad state and there is a need to take decisive actions to stop the perpetrators.

MACBAN in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, noted that it has developed a strategy to curb the menace so that pastoralists can resume their activities and locals can regain their territories which had been occupied by the deadly groups, Naija News reports.

The herders union noted that the resolution was reached following a meeting held by its National Executive Council (NEC) in the last weekend.

The communique signed by the National President of MACBAN, Hussein Bosso and the National Secretary, Baba Ngelzarma, noted that the NEC meeting deliberated on issues bothering security challenges facing pastoralists across the country and as well deliberated on the upcoming MACBAN national elections.

It stated also that MACBAN would give maximum support to the government and to security agencies to deal with outlaws, bandits and other criminals making the lives of pastoralists unbearable in rural areas.

MACBAN said the NEC directed state chapters to conduct town hall meetings, involving leaders, youth leaders and other critical stakeholders to address peculiar issues militating against pastoralists’ education.

Parts of its strategy was to invoke the culture of ‘Pulaku’ against any family that harbours or aids criminality, Naija News understands.

The herders association expressed its appreciation for the support it had received as well as the concern of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the plight of pastoralists.

“MACBAN assures the sultan that the association will do whatever it takes to restore dignity, the culture of Fulani people and address issues affecting pastoralists with all the seriousness it deserves,’’ it stated.

The communique added that the association appealed to the sultan to organise a national conference involving pastoralists’ leaders, the intelligentsia and other critical stakeholders.

“This is with the view to addressing issues of insecurity, economic empowerment and the negative profiling of pastoralists in the social and mainstream media.

“The meeting also expressed serious concerns about the continuous displacement of thousands of pastoralists’ families as a result of cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping and the activities of outlawed groups.

“They attack, maim, or kill pastoralists without any just cause. If this continues it might soon bankrupt the livestock industry as a whole,’’ it stated.

It added that the meeting agreed to follow the timeline, rules and regulations for the conduct of the forthcoming MACBAN national elections.

Naija News understands that the NEC meeting was presided over by the MACBAN president, and was attended by chairmen and secretaries from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

The communique stated that one “Ardo’’ (Ruga leader) from each state and representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Kano, the Emir of Zazzau (Kaduna State) and the Emir of Katsina were also in attendance.”