Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in crises-torn Plateau State said,in contrast to the thinking in some quarters, members of the association suffer more from attacks by bandits, kidnappers and rustlers than any other groups.
It’s National President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, made the clarification in a statement he issued at the weekend.
He was clearing the air in response to a pulpit sermon by fiery Christian cleric, Prophet Isa El-Buba, who is based in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
El-Buba, a Muslim turned Christian, had accused Fulani herdsmen of masterminding the incessant attacks and insecurity in the North-Central State.
To El-Buba, who is Founder/
President, EL-Buba Outreach Ministries International, over 80 percent of murderous attacks in the state were by killer herdsmen, who, he claimed, are Miyetti Allah members.
He dismissed the prevailing notion in some official and other quarters that the crises in the state stemmed from farmer-herder clashes, insisting that they are allegedly pure genocide, terrorism, and moves at land-grabbing.
The clergyman underlined his assertion by claiming that should Miyetti Allah rein in the herdsmen, the attacks will end.
Responding to these, Othman-Ngelzarma waved off the claims, asserting that Fulani herdsmen are not criminals.
Rather, he described them as victims of banditry and insecurity in the state and Nigeria.
The herdsmen, he noted, are victims as they are profiled by indigenes and security personnel, consequently suffering attacks by both.
The MACBAN President expressed worry that every bandits’ attack in Plateau State is attributed to Fulani herdsmen.
He said many of the herders are being killed daily in violent conflicts just as their much-valued cattle continue to be rustled by assailants.
Counseling El-Buba and Plateau people not to see all Fulani herdsmen as criminals, Othman-Ngelzarma restated that as they live in forests with their families and depend entirely on their cattle for survival, this made them vulnerable and soft targets for attacks and slaughter by bandits,kidnappers and rustlers.
Sounding an apparently ominous warning, the MACBAN boss stated that peace will continue to elude Plateau State until justice is done.
