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Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Establish Nomadic Affairs Ministry – Miyetti Allah to FG

    Establish Nomadic Affairs Ministry – Miyetti Allah to FG

    Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Association has demanded for the Federal Ministry of Nomadic Affairs to be established, noting that its establishment will broaden educational opportunities and address pastoralist challenges.

    The group also used the opportunity to demand for the overhauling of the country’s security systems adding that the judicial system should be adjusted to give access to justice by pastoralists, saying that many of their youths are languishing in different cells and correctional centers across the country.

    Miyetti Allah stated this in a communique issued Monday and jointly signed by its National President, Abdullahi Bodejo, and its National Secretary, Mr. Saleh Alhassan, at the end of the expanded National Executive Meeting with State Chairmen of the association held in Abuja.

    It also demanded the immediate designation, gazetting and development of all the 415 grazing reserves across the country.

    It said: “The meeting called for the immediate Designation, gazetting and Development of all the 415 grazing reserves across the states of the Federation as the only first strategic step in addressing the challenges confronting Fulani Herders in Nigeria.

    “This will include building of earth dams and solar boreholes. Building of veterinary clinics. Development of Diary (milk) collection centres.”

    The group noted with dismay the recent massacre of Fulani pastoralists in Taraba State and called on the Inspector General of Police to set up a high power panel to unmasked those responsible for the dastardly acts and ensure justice is done to the victims’ families to avoid people resorting to self help.

    “The meeting dismissed the consistent claims of farmers- herders conflicts as a major setback of instability and insecurity in Nigeria. But rather the conflicts are exacerbated by activities of states sponsored vigilantes and tribal hordes who willfully continue to carry out extra-judicial killings of Fulani pastoralists.”

    The leadership of the association also condemned the continuous profiling of Fulani pastoralists by Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom through the anti-grazing law it said the governor has been using to officially confiscate and auction cattle belonging to Fulanis in Benue-Nasarawa and Benue-Taraba border communities

  • Miyetti Allah is a known architect of many terrorists group – IPOB

    Miyetti Allah is a known architect of many terrorists group – IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday has identified Miyetti Allah as the founder of many terrorist groups terrorizing the nation.

    Emma Powerful, the spokesman of the group also said Miyetti Allah was linking IPOB to Obi due to hatred for Igbos and fear of Biafra agitation.

    In a statement he signed, Powerful wondered why Miyetti has failed to link Fulani presidential candidates to Boko Haram and bandits.

    The statement reads partly: “The attention of the global movement and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership and command of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the laughable and disgraceful statement credited to one Saleh Alhassan of Miyetti Allah group linking the so called Obidient Movement to IPOB.

    “Miyetti Allah is a known architect and breeder of many terrorists groups terrorizing Nigeria since Late Major General Muhammadu Buhari took over power in 2015.

    “IPOB knows that these terrorists masquerading as cattle herders constantly linking Peter Obi with IPOB and Biafra agitation are doing so because of their hatred against Igbos and their fear for Biafra.

    “They never linked their Fulani presidential candidates to Boko Haram terrorists and Bandits even when it is evident to all that they are co-sponsors of these terror groups.

    “Miyetti Allah, known terrorists supporting and terror sponsoring group that the current Fulani Presidency of Nigeria elevated and stylishly glorified to the 4th level of Government are not well informed to know that IPOB does not engage in seasonal jamboree and selection process called Nigerian election.”

  • Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore does not speak for Fulani ethnic group – COFPIA

    Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore does not speak for Fulani ethnic group – COFPIA

    A Fulani professional group known as Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, COFPIA, Monday, called on Nigerians to disregard any statement from Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, saying it did not speak for Fulani ethnic group or represented the Fulani in any way.

     

    The group distanced itself from a statement credited to one Alhaji Alhasan Salah, said to be National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

     

    According to Alhaji Sallah’s statement, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore planned to embark on a campaign of calumny against the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.

     

    The group described the move as “politically sponsored.”

     

    Alhasan had, in an interview with a national newspaper, said the Fulani nation would not support the candidature of Obi, describing him not only as a tribal bigot but also as someone who did not like the North, and by extension, the Fulani tribe.

     

    “As far as Miyetti Allah is concerned, Obi is out of the options of persons to be voted for in the forthcoming elections.

     

    “As far as we are concerned, we know those we cannot vote for. You see the one that they call Obi or OBIdient, any Fulani man who votes for him must be questioned because he may not be a true son of the soil.

     

    “Obi represents the Biafran interest. So, we know those we cannot vote for and those that cannot be President of Nigeria. He is a tribal bigot,” he said.

     

    But, COFPIA, in a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Mohammed Gidado, and Secretary, Hajiya Mairo Modibo, said while it acknowledged their right to freedom of expression and opinion, it would say “they don’t have the right to speak for the entire Fulani in Nigeria, especially when they havd not lived up to expectations.”

     

    COFPIA said Fulbe people all over Nigeria “will not be binded by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah.”

     

    “Our attention has been drawn to a sectional, unpatriotic, ungodly and senseless statement credited to one of our brothers, Alhajji Hassan Saleh, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria, which no doubt, is responsible for the bad name Fulani nation has been branded with in Nigeria.

     

    “The Fulbe all over Nigeria will not be binded by that politically sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah anymore. The Fulani people are wise now and cannot be used as tools of extortion and religious sentiment any more. We will enlighten our people to vote for competence and capacity come 2023. We will never vote for any candidate who has nothing to offer. We have gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments.

     

    “We will vote for a President that will tackle poverty and acute hunger that have held our people hostage for so long. We will vote for a President that will fight insecurity with every commitment and unbiased mind, no matter who is involved.

     

    “Our respected tribal group, Miyetti Allah, should channel their campaign to redeem the bad image they have created for Fulani people in Nigeria rather than casting aspersions on Peter Obi, who has demonstrated capacity to rescue Nigeria from the current hopelessness.

     

    “We wish to also make it categorically clear that we have not endorsed Obi or any presidential candidate in the forth-coming general election and we are not Obi’s mouthpiece, but it is wrong for our people to continue to brand Peter Obi as a tribal bigot and that he doesn’t like the North. Available data has shown Obi as an ardent nationalist that believes in the unity of Nigeria.

     

    “We, therefore, call on our brothers in the Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore to only speak for their group, rather than misleading Nigerians that they are speaking for the entire Fulani people.

     

    “They lack the moral, spiritual, and religious rights to speak for the entire Fulani people in Nigeria, especially when they have reduced themselves to tribal bigots that has no regards for other tribes and faiths.

     

    “Nigerians have taken position in the forthcoming elections to vote for the best man for the job and cannot be distracted by any selfish agenda and blackmail.

     

    “As campaigns start, we shall mobilise and enlighten Fulani, young and, old to every ruga’s and town to sensitize our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore and its like.”

  • Miyetti Allah sues Benue, 9 other states over seized cattle, ranch funds

    Miyetti Allah sues Benue, 9 other states over seized cattle, ranch funds

    The umbrella body of herdsmen in Nigeria, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has threatened to take legal action against the Benue State Government over the alleged illegal seizure and auctioning of cattle belonging to its members.

    The group made the revelation on Monday in Abuja at a press conference.

    Apart from Benue, Miyetti Allah also said it would sue at least nine other northern state governments over the alleged diversion of billions of naira received from the Federal Government for the establishment of cattle ranches, thenewsguru.ng reports.

    ALSO READ: Gunmen abduct 10 Miyetti Allah members in Anambra

    The Secretary-General of the group, Saleh Alhassan, noted that Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Niger and Nasarawa states had failed to judiciously channel funds ranging from N5 billion to N10 billion meant for the ranches.

    He accused the government of these states of riding on the misery of the cattle herders to amass wealth.

    Alhassan, thenewsguru.ng correspondent noted, also stressed that the creation of cattle ranches would drastically minimise the lingering farmer-herder clashes recorded in the concerned states.

    According to him, “We’re already taking the stock, and we’re going to sue the Benue state government to pay compensation for all those stolen cattle officially, in the name of arresting cattle across the borders of Benue and Taraba state, Benue and Nasarawa state.

    “Because as far as we are concerned, there is no cattle herding in Benue since Ortom put in this law.”

    ALSO READ: Abia govt kicks as gunmen kill 8 traders in Omumauzor cattle market

    On ranching, he said “Nasarawa State Government has collected money for ranching, Katsina State Government has collected money for ranching, Kaduna State Government has collected money for ranching. States like Niger are also in the line of collecting money for ranching. Plateau State has collected the money for ranching.

    “We are yet to see the ranches because we don’t want the state governors to use the misery and the hardship of the pastoralists to continue to divert these funds. Because we really need to address this issue of farmer-herder conflict, which we believe a sustainable land use management, which is through the ranching will be a solution for the crisis.”

    He also revealed that the association would soon take legal action against the Benue state government over the seizure and auctioning of cattle, amounting to losses of billions of naira to the herders.

    While displaying footage of the burning of a lorry loaded with cattle by suspected elements of the Indigenous People of Biafra, he called on security agencies to intervene before such attacks would escalate.

    He said the ensuing instability from such actions could hamper the conduct of the 2023 elections.

    “This attack happened Yesterday (Sunday) were carried out by IPOB because if you watch the videos which I will share with you, they are proclaiming it. They are speaking Igbo language, they are proclaiming their organisation is behind it.

    “They want to make sure they chase out every Fulani man in the Southeast and destroy their cattle. On the issue of our members being part of the insecurity, let me state it without any doubt, our members are not part of the bandits.

    “We are a herders organisation. If you are a bandit, you don’t have herds of cattle. You are a bandit who should be treated as a bandit.

    “We will take legal actions against those perpetrating acts of violence against our people. We will also take actions against the ineptitude of the government of the day for allowing all this injustice and atrocities to be meted out on our people,” he said.

  • Gunmen abduct 10 Miyetti Allah members in Anambra

    Gunmen abduct 10 Miyetti Allah members in Anambra

    Gunmen have abducted 10 members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Anambra State.

    The gunmen, yesterday, also went away with more than 200 cows from the herdsmen’s settlement at Obene community, Ogbaru local government area of the state.

    The spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident to journalists in Awka.

    He said the operatives are on the kidnappers’ trail.

    Ikenga said: “The Anambra State Police Command, under the leadership of the commissioner of police, Echeng, will not rest on its oars until the victims are rescued unhurt and return to their families.”

  • 2023: Miyetti Allah gives conditions to support southern candidate

    2023: Miyetti Allah gives conditions to support southern candidate

    Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore (MAKH), a Fulani socio-cultural association, has given conditions to support a southern presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, National President of the association gave the conditions while reacting to assertions by some Southern and Middle Belt leaders.

    The leaders had after a meeting earlier in the month declared that they would not support any presidential candidate from the North, reason being that power should rotate to the south in 2003.

    However, Bodejo in an interview with Sun stressed that no Southern presidential aspirant would get the support of the Fulani people unless they pledge to repeal laws banning open grazing and bring back the controversial grazing routes that had been outlawed in many states in the South.

    He said: “Even though Nigeria is one, we are not going to support a Southerner as president. A president from the North is better because northerners are better managers of the nation than Southerners. The North has demonstrated that there is no difference among them in the region; they don’t show this is Fulani, this is Hausa, and this is this and that, unlike in the South. Northern people have managed the country better than southerners.

    “If your enemy asks you to join him to scatter your father’s house, can you support him to break your father’s house? You shouldn’t do that, but if he overshadows you and you help him to accomplish that, you would cry later. It will be very difficult for a southerner to manage Nigeria the way a northerner would.

    “The northerners that are ruling or governing were trained by our leaders that ruled the country before. The Afenifere and others that are jumping up and down should know that political power is not collected by force. If you know that your mind is clean, you meet others to get power and not be talking tough. The #EndSARS that happened and the Biafra issue will affect the South in asking for power.

    “The southern governors and other political leaders have said that they don’t need Fulani in their land, so if they come to seek our support to be the president, we are not and we cannot support them. We cannot support any person from that region because they have shown hatred towards Fulani. If you hate Fulani in your state, you hate yourself, you hate your family and you hate your politics.

    “I have not seen anybody from there who can come boldly and say that we should support him. Maybe, before I see the person I would have been convinced by northern leaders, who can explain to me or give me reasons my organisation should support such person.

    “But, I’m yet to see up till this moment. When electricity is taken, darkness descends, and you won’t see anything until light is restored. So, we are still inside darkness, especially how everybody over there hates Fulani”.

  • 2023: Miyetti Allah denies endorsing Tinubu as preferred presidential aspirant

    2023: Miyetti Allah denies endorsing Tinubu as preferred presidential aspirant

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), says it has not endorsed Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their most preferred presidential aspirant for the 2023 General Elections.

    The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Ngelzarma said the association respects the aspirations of all presidential aspirants, although it is not yet time to single out an individual for support.

    He said “the attention of the MACBAN National Headquarters has been drawn to stories in the media claiming they have endorsed the presidential aspiration of Sen. Ahmed Tinubu.

    “We want to make it clear that the association has not endorsed any candidate.

    “Those who endorsed Tinubu are doing so as individuals, as MACBAN should not in any way be dragged into the politics of endorsement at this stage,” Ngelzarma said.

    Recalled that, the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, Jan. 10, formally informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his presidential ambition in 2023.

    Tinubu, who spoke after a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said though he made his intention known to the president, he would continue to consult with Nigerians.

    He dismissed the assertion that ”a kingmaker cannot become a king”, saying he would like to take over from President Buhari in 2023 to continue with the good works of the ruling APC.

  • We prefer Tinubu as Nigeria’s president in 2023 – Miyetti Allah

    We prefer Tinubu as Nigeria’s president in 2023 – Miyetti Allah

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, has said Bola Tinubu, a 2023 presidential aspirant, would improve the welfare of its members if he becomes president in 2023.

    MACBAN made the remark while recounting how Tinubu intervened in their crisis in Benue State when he was the governor of Lagos State.

    NAN reports that the group stated this during a meeting held at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, Abuja, on Sunday.

    NAN reports that Fulani leaders from all states of the federation attended the meeting.

    Ya’u Haruna, the convener of the meeting and a former chairman of the Jigawa chapter of MACBAN, said, “We are also scanning the people showing interest in the presidential seat with Bola Tinubu. He was the one who intervened in our matter while he was governor of Lagos and we had a crisis in Benue.

    “Tinubu came all the way, got us on a round table, and reconciled us, so, someone who could do this at that time, we believe can do more when he is at the helms of affairs.”

    MACBAN, however, admitted that there are criminals who engage in kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities among its members.

  • Miyetti Allah urges FG to ignore Ortom’s request for the proscription of the association.

    Miyetti Allah urges FG to ignore Ortom’s request for the proscription of the association.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on the Federal Government to ignore Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue’s request for the proscription of the association.

    The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    “We are not at all surprised at the recent call by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State for the proscription of our association (MACBAN) going by his antecedents,” he said.

    The scribe alleged that Ortom’s hatred for the Fulani was not in doubt, adding that “he has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is an unreliable leader.

    “Whose stock in trade is fanning the embers of hatred between peaceful Nigerians that have been living in peace for many centuries.

    “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to ignore this unpatriotic call by a wayward Governor who is hell bend on putting this country into unnecessary crisis,” Ngelzarma said.

    The national secretary said the association had contributed to peace building in Benue, adding that MACBAN spared no efforts in helping the good people of the state to live in peace with the pastoralists.

    “MACBAN is not and will never be a terrorist organisation.

    “We are fully registered with the regulatory agencies with clear vision and mission to foster peaceful coexistence to our teeming members as well as serving humanity positively.”

    Ngelzarma however advised Ortom to “concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Benue” instead of chasing phantom shadows.

  • Miyetti Allah, Governors and Justice, By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Miyetti Allah, Governors and Justice, By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Make no mistake about it, the latest resolve of the federating units to collect VAT within their respective units and use the revenue generated therefrom solely for the development of their units as well as enact anti-open grazing laws in order to protect the lives and property of their citizens are indicative of the direction Nigeria is irreversibly, inexorably and irresistibly headed-restructuring so as to create greater regional autonomy and weak centre. The power of the Federal Government under the 1999 Constitution to keep custody and determine the terms and manner of the revenue and allocation of the funds that accrue to the Federation Account to the detriment of the federating units is, to say the least, an unconscionable socio-economic and political injustice. Considering the new self-determinist wave blowing across the different States of the Federation at the moment, I wager that in no distant future all these unproductive parasites idling away in different government offices in Abuja and waiting for monthly allocation and free money will be going hungry for lack of free money. It is a case of Monkey dey work baboon dey chop otherwise how can you rationalize the fact that idle parasites are constantly feeding fat from the revenue generated and wealth created by the federating units?. Happily, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has woken up other State Governors from their slumbers to reality. This is why these State Governors are now enacting the VAT laws in their respective States in order to utilize the revenues accruing therefrom for the socio- economic and cultural development of their respective regions. Lagos State enacted theirs last penultimate week. It is not unlikely that more States will follow suit.

    Additionally, the State governments are enacting their respective anti-open grazing laws in order to get rid of the nuisance of the Fulani herdsmen attacks and killers. Penultimate week I listened to the arguments of the Miyetti Allah chieftains on why the anti-open grazing laws are satanic and therefore should be brought out and quashed. According to the said chieftains, the anti-open grazing laws will work untold hardship and injustice on the Fulani cattle herders and Fulani pastoralists; that the State Governors should learn to accommodate their Fulani herdsmen brothers; that the anti-open grazing laws would send the Fulani herdsmen and millions of people who depend on the livestock value chain into poverty; that the anti-open grazing laws will threaten the social order and undermine the relative peace and stability enjoyed between farmers and Fulani pastoralists in local communities.

    The above arguments, with the greatest respect, are bunkum. They are myopic, unintelligible and gutter arguments and therefore should be ignored by the State Governors. It is a paradox that the Miyetti Allah chieftains are complaining that untold hardship and injustice are being visited on the Fulani herdsmen when in fact it is the herdsmen who are terrorizing innocent local farmers, destroying their crops and farm lands, forcefully dispossessing them of their farmlands and occupying same, raping, maiming and murdering the citizens in their thousands?. Do these chieftains truly understand the meaning of the notion of justice? Do they think that we are fools or what?. Who or what can be adjudged as satanic, Miyetti Allah or anti-open grazing laws?. It is obvious that these chieftains are not reasoning properly otherwise they would not have glossed over the atrocities and crimes being committed by the Fulani herdsmen across Nigeria in demanding for their so-called open grazing right? Is Miyetti Allah not aware that the anti-open grazing laws are the fallout of the atrocities and crimes being committed by the Fulani herdsmen?

    Anyway I don’t blame Miyetti Allah for challenging the State Governors. Why won’t they try to wrestle down the State Governors when Mr. President is solidly behind them?. The reader knows very well that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, founded in 1970 with the primary objective of promoting the welfare of Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria, has been acting as a parallel or alternative government under the Buhari government. To begin with, the Miyetti Allah is above the law of the land. It meddles in the affairs of government. In fact, the Miyetti Allah is such a powerful alternative government that it can call for the resignation of an elected public office holder. Read again the excerpt of the ultimatum issued by Miyetti Allah to the then Senate President Saraki, “We are tired of Saraki’s style of leadership at the National Assembly. Therefore, we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as President of the Senate or we will force him out.”. Similarly in the aftermath of the killing of about 200 Nigerians on the Plateau State, the Miyetti Allah quicky issued a statement accepting responsibility for the killings. The worst was that instead of regretting that they had wasted many precious human lives on the Plateau, the Miyetti Allah regretted that they had lost about 300 cows. Which means that cow lives are more valuable to Miyetti Allah than human lives. According to Chairman of the North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Danladi Ciroma, “These attacks are retaliatory…“We lost 300 cows, no one should expect peace in Plateau…” .

    To date, the Miyetti Allah still thirsts for human blood. It has continued to utter statements that clearly verge on treason and treasonable felony. It rejects ranching. It has warned that no State in Nigeria has a right to enact anti-open grazing law. It issues threats and ultimatums. Yet the Miyetti Allah is neither proscribed nor prosecuted as a terrorist organization. Instead of proscribing or prosecuting the Miyetti Allah, President Buhari is openly supporting them. Despite murdering many Nigerians the Fulani herdsmen are still moving around freely in Nigeria aided and abetted by our security operatives. Instead of raising such an alarm that the Fulani herdsmen are committing crimes across Nigeria, President Buhari prefers to be raising an alarm that the Fulani herdsmen criminals are not being protected or granted “grazing right” by the State Governors. Do Mr. President and Miyetti Allah understand that right, in the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, is not a one-way traffic? Right is reciprocal. Right is intertwined with and conditioned by duties. For example, the “right” of Fulani herdsmen to be freely going about and killing their fellow citizens stops where the right to life of their fellow citizens begins. Besides, what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. If Mr. President and Miyetti Allah are raising an alarm that the Fulani herdsmen are denied open grazing right, why are they not equally raising an alarm that the same Fulani herdsmen are killing, maiming and raping Nigerian citizens? It is worrisome that Mr. President and Miyetti Allah are yet to understand that by virtue of the Land Use Act all the lands in the various Nigerian States are exclusively vested in the various State Governors (not in the Presidency or Fulani herdsmen) who are at liberty to grant or convey or assign same to any applicant for his use.

    Anyway, the State Governors are unyielding and unbending in their resolve to enact and enforce the anti-open grazing laws to the letter. No amount of cajole, cheap blackmail or open or veiled intimidation can deter them from this resolve. Under our presidential democracy governed by the principle of separation of power and all that, neither President Buhari nor Miyetti kingpins can dictate to our elected State Governors and State legislators the way and manner of enacting their laws. The State Governors and State legislators are primarily accountable to the citizens of their respective States not to President Buhari or Miyetti Allah. State laws are enacted in consonance with the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the respective States not the wishes of Miyetti Allah. Therefore if the State legislators, after due and proper consultation with the stakeholders and people of their respective States, have resolved to enact the anti-open grazing laws in order to protect the lives and property of the citizens of their respective States, President Buhari and Miyetti Allah have no right to interrogate them for doing that.