The umbrella body of herdsmen in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, says herders are facing so many challenges from hostile host committees including vigilante groups and other criminal elements who rustle cows in the country.
The group said some displaced herders in the country, who were dispossessed of their cows, end up becoming bandits carrying out several attacks including kidnapping Nigerians.
The spokesman for the group, Saleh Alhassan, spoke on Wednesday while featuring on PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.
Miyetti Allah: Nobody Can Force Us Out Of South-West
Alhassan said it was unfair to label every herder as a criminal, adding that it was sad that herders have been singled out for victimisation.
He said the herders now turned bandits were fighting an economic fight and not an ideological fight.
The spokesman said states banning open grazing and chasing out herders from their domains are creating crisis unbeknownst to them.
However, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN, in the Southeast, says it will support any policy by the government that seeks to stop the clashes between host communities and the herdsmen.
It listed conditions to be followed by the government to stop incessant clashes between its members and farmers in the country.
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He said the association in the southeast zone was in support of any government policy that would put to an end, the continued clashes between Fulani herders and farmers in the country. So long the policy would be of benefit to both parties.
According to Siddiki, “the governor’s position is a welcome development, but for the policy to work as expected, the following provisions must be in place for peace and equity.
“They are training and re-training of Fulani herdsmen on Mechanized Grazing, provision of land for Ranching in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT and a continue Town Hall Meetings between Government, Farmers and the Herders in the affected areas.
“I believe with all these, it will bring to an end, the lingering crisis between the farmers and herder in the country, Siddiki added.
Miyetti Allah Lists Conditions To Stop Clash Between Farmers, Herders
The group maintains that the majority of its members have no idea of mechanized grazing while calling on the government to organize training on that for the cattle breeders.
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