TheNewsGuru

Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Tinubu should arrest, prosecute Sunday Igboho – Miyetti Allah

    Tinubu should arrest, prosecute Sunday Igboho – Miyetti Allah

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN has insisted Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Igboho should be arrested and prosecuted by the Federal Government over his ‘unlawful statement’ on Fulani herders.

    MACBAN National President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said this in response to Igboho’s remarks that Fulani herders should be expunged from the Southwest.

    MACBAN noted that if Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, could be arrested and prosecuted, then the same thing should apply to Igboho.

    Igboho, who recently returned to Nigeria after about two years of detention in Benin Republic, accused Fulani herders of killing farmers in the Southwest.

    In a statement he signed, Ngelzarma said: “We call on the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and relevant security agencies to arrest and prosecute Sunday Igboho for making this unlawful statement that amounts to treason because he is asking for the actualisation of Oduduwa nation.

    “His statements are unlawful. If Nnamdi Kanu will be held behind bars for a similar offence, we see no reason why Sunday Igboho will be allowed to go scot-free without being arrested and prosecuted.”

  • Police disown Miyetti Allah security outfit in Nasarawa

    Police disown Miyetti Allah security outfit in Nasarawa

    The Commissioner  of Police in Nasarawa State,  Umar Nadada, has said that the  vigilante group recently inaugurated by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani Socio-Cultural Association in the state, is not recognised by the police.

    The Fulani socio-cultural group unveiled the vigilante group on Jan. 18, in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

    The Commissioner of Police said this when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him on Tuesday in Lafia.

    According to the commissioner, no formal letter was  written to  inform  the police of the group`s  intention to register any Nomad Vigilante Group.

    “It is our duty to attend any gathering to provide security and ensure that hoodlums did not hijack the event or the organisers themselves will not do anything illegal.

    “Even when they came to our headquarters, I addressed them outside the headquarters of the command because there was no formal notification” he added.

    Nadada said that the police had been working with vigilante groups that were recognised,  and would not work with any group not recognised by the state,” he said.

    On the synergy with NUJ, Nadada said that the police was ready to work with the media for proper policing in the state.

    The commissioner said that the contributions of journalists to the development of any society, and of course policing of the society cannot be undermined.

    “Media practitioners in the state have proven to be true professionals in their reportage, and have always contacted us to get clarification before publishing or airing their reports.

    “The coverage of police activities in the state has been unprecedented and we need to commend you and appeal that it should be sustained.

    “Without the coverage of our activities the public will not know the efforts we are making in fighting crime, and the feat we have achieved,” he said.

    He said that the command had concluded plans to expand the anti-kidnapping unit of the police from two to five for more efficiency.

    Earlier, Mr  Salihu Alkali, NUJ Chairman in the state, congratulated Nadada on his posting as the commissioner of Police in the state, and promised to support him to succeed.

    He commended the Police for their relentless effort toward fighting crime, and appealed that patrol should be stepped up on Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia and Federal University of Lafia.

    The chairman said that this would tackle the increasing robbery in the area.

    He said that the people in the state were not happy with the formation of the Nomad Vigilante group, and urged the police to address it before it gets out of control.

  • Plateau Killings: Miyetti Allah condemns attack

    Plateau Killings: Miyetti Allah condemns attack

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has condemned in totality the resurgent violence, attack and bloodbath in Plateau state.

    It’s reported that several lives were lost in the attack that took place in the Bakkos Local Government Area of Plateau State,

    Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, the national president of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, condemned the killings in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “The intolerance that is fanning this circle of violence must be stopped by the Federal and Plateau State governments. This act of barbarism by the actors must be condemned by all, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation,” he said.

    According to Othman-Ngelzarma,  the association supported President Bola Tinubu in his directives to the security agencies to fish out the culprits and bring them to book.

    He also thanked the President for his directive that relief materials be distributed to the victims.

    Othman-Ngelzarma enjoined the Plateau State Government to consider and include pastoralists among the beneficiaries of the relief materials.

    According to him, pastoralists were the greater victims of the calamity.

  • Drone Attack: Miyetti Allah seeks compensation for all victims

    Drone Attack: Miyetti Allah seeks compensation for all victims

    Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has urged the Federal Government to come out with a clear-cut compensation package for all victims of drone attacks across the country.

    The National President of MACBAN, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Othman-Ngelzarma appealed to the military to take precautions in discharging its constitutional duties of protecting and ensuring the unity of the country.

    He particularly called on the Federal Government to ensure that justice is done for some pastoralists, allegedly killed in Rukubi, Doma Chiefdom, Nasarawa State, on January, 27, 2023.

    According to him, the victims were allegedly killed as a result of a drone attack by the Nigerian Air Force.

    “The victims were offloading their livestock which was retrieved from the Benue livestock guard after paying a fine of N29 million.

    “To justify the victim’s innocence, it was on record that they were publicly buried in the presence of the officials of the Nasarawa State, Royal father’s and thousands of sympathizes.

    “Those killed were bona fide, peace-loving Nigerians, deserving justice like every other citizen.”

    He lamented that similar drone strike in Tudun Biri is getting all the attention of not only the Federal Government but even the military accepting responsibility and pledging compensation for the victims.

    “The leadership of the Northern Governors forum and that of the federal legislative arm of Government have, in addition to visiting the site, pledged all sorts of assistance.

    “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to extend the same gesture to the victims of Rukubi drone attack and similar incidences that took place in other states.”

    “We believe now is the time for the Federal Government to come out with a clear-cut compensation package for victims of such incidents across the nation.”

  • Miyetti Allah urges FG to set up national reconciliation commission

    Miyetti Allah urges FG to set up national reconciliation commission

    The Miyetti Allah association has called for the setting up of a national truth and reconciliation commission to begin the process of total reconciliation and national healing in rural communities occasioned by insecurity.

    The group made the appeal in a communique issued at the end of its annual general meeting and delegates conference in Abuja on Monday.

    The communique was jointly signed by its national president, Abdullahi Bodejo; national secretary, Saleh Alhassan; and national deputy president, Mansur Abdulkarim.

    The group also called on security agencies to commence the process of detailed documentation of violence against pastoralists, including the collection of exhibits and relevant information to isolate the perpetrators of violence.

    ”Delegates condemn in totality all forms of violence and support the peace-loving people to embrace the spirit of brotherhood and peaceful and harmonious coexistence in our communities.

    ”Delegates totally condemn the continuous profiling of the Fulani race by some media organisations, particularly the social media, and urge the press to investigate the veracity of such stories.

    ”Delegates frown at the continuous extra-judicial killing of Fulani pastoralists by security agencies and call on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate these atrocities and ensure justice is served,” it said.

    The group applauded the appointment of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and minister of defence, while urging them to bring their wealth of experience in tackling insecurity in the country.

    While pledging to support federal government policies and programmes to address the challenges facing the livestock sector, the group appealed for inclusion in the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

    It, therefore, endorsed the establishment of Miyetti Allah vigilante nationwide to assist security agencies in curbing criminalities, such as cattle rustling, kidnapping and rural banditry.

  • Plateau crisis: 15 bodies recovered, 78 houses burnt -MACBAN

    Plateau crisis: 15 bodies recovered, 78 houses burnt -MACBAN

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said 15 people were killed following an alleged invasion of their communities in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    The group also said 78 houses belonging to their members were burnt while over 2,000 cattle were still missing after the invasion.

    Nuru Abdullahi, state chairman of the group, disclosed this to journalists on Monday, in Jos, the state capital.

    He said, “On the invasion of Fulani communities in villages of Mangu, we have recovered 15 bodies killed on Friday. About 78 houses were burnt down. Cattle numbering 2,000 are still missing. This unfortunate thing is moving its head quickly into other LGAs of the state to annihilate Fulani completely in the state.”

    Abdullahi also alleged a plan to attack their communities by suspected militias.

    “There is an intelligence report that there are trained militias recruited and brought to fight and chase all Fulani out of Plateau State in the name of crisis. Therefore, at this point, we are still calling on the federal government to as a matter of urgency put a stop to what is happening in Mangu LGA.

    “They should take immediate action before things go out of hand. We are soliciting the FG to take necessary action so that things will not go out of hand. We will not continue watching people killing us and destroying our properties,” Abdullahi added.

    The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, and that of the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barrack, Lieutenant Colonel Ishaku Sabastine Takwa, had yet to respond to calls and messages..

    Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mangu LGA to restore law and order and to forestall further loss of lives and property.

    The Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, in a statement, said the governor imposed the curfew following his consultation with the State Security Council.

    The statement said movements within the local government have been banned until further notice except for security personnel and persons on essential duties, adding that security agencies have been directed to ensure total enforcement of the curfew.

  • May 29: No cows will ‘loiter’ streets of Abuja – Miyetti Allah

    May 29: No cows will ‘loiter’ streets of Abuja – Miyetti Allah

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has promised that no cow will be seen loitering the streets of Abuja, during the Presidential inauguration.

    The group in a statement issued by Janet Peni, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, Deputy Director information on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Chairman of MACBAN, FCT chapter, Usman Muhammad said “we will help to ensure that no cow is seen loitering the citycentre before the big day.

    “It is our culture to receive a visitor in a very clean and tidy environment and in this case, the in-coming Government is the visitor.

    “We promise to clear and clean the city for a government that we elected,”.

    Muhammad said the meeting is not only timely but it is strategic because it provided the opportunity for their concerns to be brought to the attention of the FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello.

    He recalled that they held a meeting with the FCT Minister and some investors from Dubai, that showed interest on investing in improved cattle rearing in the FCT for greater profit.

    According to him, this portends potential for generating revenues for both the FCT Administration and the local cattle rearers and also to introduce herders to modern methods of cattle rearing.

    He expressed optimism to get a feedback from the FCT Administration on the way forward.

    The chairman appealed to the incoming government to come to their aid, as cattle rustling remains a big threat, stating that over 300 cows were stolen from his blood brother recently.

    Also speaking, Adamu Rabo, chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, branch of the association promised to immediately take the message to every herder in his domain on the need to cooperate with the Government to ensure that the inauguration is peacefully and successfully done, in a tidy and neat environment.

    Rabo appealed to the FCT minister to urgently provide grazing areas to herders in the FCT where they can immediately relocate their cows to, for a lasting solution.

    In his opening remarks, Director AEPB, Osi Braimah, stated that the meeting was meant to rob minds with leaders of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association, FCT Chapter on finding a lasting solution to the intractable problem of cattle grazing in the FCT.

    “As we all know that cattle grazing in the FCT is against the law, and in a bid to resolve the problem, quarterly meetings are held to address the matter.

    “It is more pressing now, because soonest the entire world will be focused on not just Nigeria, but on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, the venue of the inauguration of Nigeria’s President-elect.

    “The inauguration which will host over 47 Presidents and heads of states and other important dignitaries across the globe, hence the need to keep the city very clean and to ensure that no cow is seen grazing in the FCT and its environs,” Braimah noted.

    He said that they have all arrived at a resolution and gotten the assurances of both the chairman of the FCT chapter and the chairman of AMAC branch of the association not to loiter the FCT with cows.

    He also warned that any herder seen flouting the law would be arrested with their cattle by a combined team of AEPB enforcement officers and law enforcement agencies like the Police and the rest, already on ground.

     

  • 2023: Miyetti Allah faction endorses Tinubu, Gov. Sule

    2023: Miyetti Allah faction endorses Tinubu, Gov. Sule

    The Fulani  Socio-Cultural group,  Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has endorsed Sen. Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the APC and Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa for second term.

    Speaking at the occasion on Friday in Lafia, Alh. Abdullahi Bello-Boejo, National President of the group said the endorsement followed the track records of the duo in the offices they had occupied in the past.

    He further explained that the Fulani people were also attracted to support Tinubu because of his choice of Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

    He explained that Shettima had developed and constructed schools in Fulani settlements while he served as the governor of Borno.

    The Miyetti Allah president also said that Sule of Nasarawa  had given priority to security and created an enabling environment for the Fulani people  and farmers in the last three years of his administration.

    “So, all Fulani people in Nigeria are for APC and will campaign tirelessly to ensure the victory of their candidates in 2023,” he added.

    Responding on behalf of the APC presidential candidate, Shettima lauded the group for the goodwill and support.

    Shettima assured that when elected in 2023, they would ensure that the Fulani people were cared for to rear their  cattles in modern ways with adequate facilities and ensure that thier children were  well educated and empowered.

    The vice presidential candidate of  the APC also promised that thier leadership would offer the best development to the country in 2023 and urged the electorate to vote for them.

    On his part, Sule expressed gratitude to the group and other groups in the state for thier support to his administration in the last three years.

    Sule promised to continue to give priority to security of lives and property as well as infrastructural and human development when returned in 2023.

    In his goodwill message, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, National Chairman of APC expressed gratitude to the Fulani socio-cultural association for the support.

    The APC national chairman also expressed optimism that the party would win the presidential election in 2023, Nasarawa governorship election and majority of states in the country.

    The occasion had  in attendence,  representatives of the group from the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

  • 2023: What we’re waiting for before we endorse our candidate – Miyetti Allah

    2023: What we’re waiting for before we endorse our candidate – Miyetti Allah

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has said it still waiting for all the candidates for the 2023 presidential election to answer their questions before they endorsed any presidential candidate.

    The National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Usman-Ngelzarma, made the disclosure in an interview in Abuja on Friday when he stressed answers must be provided for the seven-point demands raised and presented by the group.

    He said: “First of all I will have to make clarification because there are two Miyetti Allah groups. We have the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), which is the one I represent as the National President.

    ”As far as my association, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria is concerned, we have not endorsed any presidential candidate.

    ”We are still waiting for all the presidential candidates to answer our questions on the seven- point demands we raised and presented copies of a letter containing our demands to them.

    ”Uptil now, we have not received any consent from any of the presidential candidates. So, until when we receive one before we begin to analyse and consider within the shortest time we have and decide whether we can endorse or not.”

    Usman-Ngelzarma said that all the major political parties have not included the challenges facing the Nigerian pastoralists in their manifestos.

    ”I personally presented our demands to the presidential candidates of the three major political parties, it is only the Labour Party that I didn’t personally submit but I have met with some representatives of the party and submitted the letter to them.

    ”So, before we decide on which presidential candidate to support, we have to sit together, analyse and discuss with the congress because that is our difference with the other pastoralists association.

    ”We are going to show our numerical strength in this year’s elections. Whoever we agree to vote for will get a block vote.

    ”And whichever candidate we endorse will win the election, because we have about 16 million registered voters from the pastoralists community in Nigeria,”  Usman-Ngelzarma

    He said that he went through the manifestos and blueprint and didn’t see anything that has to do with the livestock.

    Usman-Ngelzarma said: ”And whenever you talk of livestock in Nigeria, you are directly or indirectly talking about the Nigerian pastoralists or talking about the Fulani’s because they are the 98 per cent owners of the cows, goats and sheep in the country.

    ”Therefore, they are the sole suppliers of protein in the county and in fact, I think Fulanis are the largest single tribe that has the latest population in this country.

    “So, we are definitely a force to reckon with and we are also controlling a multi trillion naira investment because the South Western of Nigeria alone consumes 6,000 cows on a daily basis, talk less of the South East and the remaining part of the country.

    ”Unless we see how each of the political parties include our demands into their manifestos, we cannot make any move for now because in MACBAN, we have different political interests.”’

    The MACBAN national president said that some of its members were registered members of APC, adding,” some are in PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, PRP and other political parties. In fact, there is no interest group in Nigeria that you will not find our members.

    ”MACBAN is not a political group but since we are in a political era and for us to advance our course under the present system of democratic government, we definitely have to participate.”

  • Ohanaeze rubbishes Miyetti Allah’s grazing reserve demands in Southeast

    Ohanaeze rubbishes Miyetti Allah’s grazing reserve demands in Southeast

    The Igbo socio cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has spoken against the resolutions of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore asking for the establishment of grazing reserves in the Southeast of Nigeria.

    Ohanaeze noted that the grazing reserves being asked for by the Miyetti Allah is a plan that would threaten the collective peace and security in the country.

    The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the demand was “unreasonable, unrealistic and hallucinations of daydreamers.”

    A statement by Isiguzoro said the Fulani group should respect the ban on open grazing and cattle routes by the Southern governors.

    Isiguzoro said: “Cattle rearing and businesses all over the world remain an individual enterprise and private business like other people who are in businesses of garments, mechanics and food vendors, the use of threats of violence to give conditions for peace shows that the Fulani organizations indirectly indicted themselves for being responsible for the crisis associated with farmers and herders across the country.

    “Ndigbo has responded that the perceived demands for 415 grazing reserves across the country have sinister and wicked motives aimed at fuelling the disintegration of the country and land grabbing against the indigenous people is a threat to National Security and Peace, there are no grazing routes and lands for grazing reserves in the southeast, the Southeast Governors ban on the conveyance of cattle by foot is still effective in the southeast, and Miyetti Allah should abide by the decisions of Ndigbo not to accede lands for grazing reserves”.

    On the demands for the Ministry of Nomadic Affairs with a mandate to broaden educational opportunities and address the pastoral challenges.

    In his reaction, Isiguzoro noted that the president in his capacity would decide on that.

    He said  “It’s at the prerogative of the President to do so, but there’s no need for irrational duplications of Ministries, the Ministry of Education and humanitarian affairs are headed by Northerners, if there are challenges with Miyetti Allah, they should seek the help of the two Northern ministers, for now, there’s no reason why there should be a Ministry of Nomadic Affairs or attempts to coax Federal Government to create one.”