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Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Miyetti Allah gives Southern Governors conditions to accept ban on Open Grazing

    Miyetti Allah gives Southern Governors conditions to accept ban on Open Grazing

    Miyetti Allah has said that the ban on open grazing by the Governors of Southern Nigeria will remain ineffective until an alternative to grazing is provided for the herders.

    South East Chairman of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said this in response to the call by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, on all the states Houses of Assembly in South East Nigeria to enact anti-grazing law in their respective states.

    Gidado Siddiki mentioned that they were not opposed to ban on open grazing but that the public hearing on constitution review should grant all parties the right to make submissions for a law against open grazing.

    “We were not given the chance to go for the Constitution review public hearing, we went there but nobody gave us an audience to talk. We did not submit a petition,” he said.

    He noted that the South East leaders are yet to provide ranching as an alternative for herders in conducting their business, hence the reason such decision will remain ineffective.

    Siddiki said: “Our position is that we are not opposed to the ban on open grazing, but at least we need an alternative.

    “You know when somebody is doing business and you stop him from doing that business, he would be given an alternative on what to do.

    “When you say that you have banned open grazing, you need to tell us how we should graze our cows because what we know is grazing. If there is an alternative, there is no problem, and that is the only thing we are begging for.”

    He urged the governors to call on all parties in making laws in respect to open grazing, adding that there is no provision for ranching in most states which poses a problem to herders.

    “If open grazing is bringing problems, let us find ways we can coexist.

    “If there is provision for ranching, we can do ranching but I do not think there is provision for ranching in states. Even Benue State that banned open grazing, I don’t think there has been any ranching in Benue State in all these years.

    “So, I don’t know if there is provision and that is our own problem,” the Miyettl Allah leader said.

  • Gunmen Abducts Miyetti Allah’s Chairman In Kogi

    Gunmen Abducts Miyetti Allah’s Chairman In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kogi State, Alhaji Wakili Damina, has been abducted.

    The state Secretary of MACBAN, Mr Adamu Abubakar, told newsmen in Lokoja on Tuesday that Damina was abducted on April 30 by some armed men dressed in army camouflage.

    “Eye witnesses said that the abductors, numbering about eight, came in a white bus at about 12 noon, “forcefully” took Chairman from his house at Chikara village, Kogi Local Government area.”

    Abubakar said that he was informed of the incident about an hour later by the younger brother of Damina who claimed he witnessed the incident.

    “Since then, his lines are not reachable and all efforts to know his whereabouts proved abortive,” he said.

    Abubakar said that he immediately notified the state Commissioner of police of the development, adding that the state government was also informed through the Special Adviser on security matters to the governor, Mr Jerry Omodara.

    The Secretary said that he and some members of the association visited the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, Abuja, to know if Damina was in their custody but they said no.

    He also said that a search party raised by MACBAN had visited other places, including abattoirs in and around Abuja to no avail.

    The state Commissioner of police, Mr Ede Ayuba, when contacted confirmed the incident and said that his command is yet to locate the whereabouts of the Chairman.

    The state Commissioner of police, Mr Ede Ayuba, when contacted confirmed the incident stressing that efforts to get detailed information about the incident from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area where the incident happened failed as the matter was not officially reported to him.

    The Commissioner said that the Police are yet to locate the whereabouts of the Chairman but efforts would be intensified towards his release.

  • Bandits Kill Two Miyetti Allah Leaders In Nasarawa

    Bandits Kill Two Miyetti Allah Leaders In Nasarawa

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed the chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Hussain, at Garaku Market Area of Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

    The bandits also murdered one Mohammed Umar, the chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    The Police Public Relation Officer, Nasarawa State Command, Ramhan Nansel, announced this in a statement signed on Friday.

    “On 2/4/2021 at about 1930hrs, information was received that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani Bandits attacked and killed one Mohammed Hussaini, the Chairman, Miyetti  Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Nasarawa State and Mohammed Umar, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Toto LGA at Garaku market.

    “Upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bola Longe psc(+) swiftly deployed Operation Puff Adder II personnel to the scene where the two corpses were recovered and taken to the hospital; the corpses deposited at Anthony memorial Mortuary for Post Mortem examination after being confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” the statement read in part.

    The Commissioner of Police who condoled with the deceased families assured that the Command will do all within its powers to bring the perpetrators of the act to book.

    The Police Boss, therefore, called on members of the public to volunteer useful information, he further assured that such information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

  • Agbekoya: There’ll be consequences if Miyetti Allah disobeys open grazing laws

    Agbekoya: There’ll be consequences if Miyetti Allah disobeys open grazing laws

    Agbekoya Farmers’ Society, on Sunday, took a swipe at the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for opposing the ban imposed on open grazing of cattle in the South-West region.

    Miyetti Allah had insisted that the ban was tantamount to an eviction notice.

    Secretary-General of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, in an interview, had said the ban on open grazing was targeted at destroying the means of livelihood of herdsmen and radicalise the herders.

    On its part, Agbekoya Farmers Association chided the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over their refusal to obey the South-West Governors’ open grazing laws, saying there will be consequences if they failed to obey the law.

    President-General of the group, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola, said: “Can a Southerner or a Yoruba man living in the North refuse to obey the Sharia law or any other law of the Northern states?

    “Yoruba people have been very accommodating, but if we are pushed to the wall, we are going to fight back.

    “How can a group of people, under a business name or an association, come out openly to say that they cannot obey the law of the state where they are operating their business, even if the law affects their business?

    “We call on the South-West governors to put everything in place to make sure the open grazing law is effectively obeyed to avoid and put to end clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the Southwest.”

    Okikiola reiterated that the effective solution to the problems of clashes between farmers and herdsmen was to stop open grazing, stressing that those interested in rearing cattle must, by all means, establish cattle ranches as it is done in other countries of the world.

    “The days of open grazing are gone, and anyone that is interested in rearing cattle should establish a cattle ranch.

    “We are warning the members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to be ready to obey the open grazing law in South-West or face the wrath of the law or other consequences,” he said.

  • No food for South West until Fulani are safe – Miyetti Allah

    No food for South West until Fulani are safe – Miyetti Allah

    Coordinator of the Kwara State chapter of Miyetti Allah Association of Cattle Breeders, Aliyu Mohammed, has said that the blockade of cattle and foodstuffs to the South West through Kwara State will continue until the safety of Fulani is guaranteed in the region.

    Mohammed speaking to newsmen after a crucial meeting of the association in Ilorin on Sunday, said the action is a warning shot to ensure a peaceful operation of businesses by the Fulani and to end the harassment of the tribe in the south.

    He also said not all Fulani are criminals, adding “Just as you have in any society where there are good and bad people.”

    Mohammed insisted that “It is not only Fulanis that commit crimes in the country, but it was sad that everything happening now is heaped on Fulani herdsmen.”

    The coordinator said the association was ready to fish out the bad eggs in their midst.

    According to him, “We have concluded at our meeting today that anybody who comes to Kwara State claiming to be Fulani herder under questionable circumstances, will be reported to the security agencies for necessary action.

    “Our vigilantes will monitor the bush and the forests where there are no security agencies and report suspected cattle rustlers who disguise as cattle herders to perpetrate crimes,” he added.

    Mohammed appealed to the Federal government to arrest Sunday Igboho, who evicted the Fulani from Igangan in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State, for the alleged destruction of their properties and killing of their people.

    He, however, commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his statesmanship in accommodating and cooperating to ensure the safe landing of Fulanis in the state.

  • Miyetti Allah defends Bauchi governor, tells FG to allow all Nigerians to carry arms

    Miyetti Allah defends Bauchi governor, tells FG to allow all Nigerians to carry arms

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder’s Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has advised the Federal Government to allow every Nigerian bear firearms to protect themselves considering the security challenges in the country.

    The association made the call while reacting to a comment by Bauchi Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, that herdsmen are only carrying firearms for self- defence.

    Gov Mohammed had drawn heavy criticism after defending the right of herders to go about with AK-47 to defend themselves against cattle rustlers.

    Bauchi chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, told The Nation on Sunday there is nothing wrong with the Governor’s stand since he didn’t say herdsmen should go and cause chaos with it.

    According to him, since the Federal government can no longer protect citizens, it’s better for every citizen to protect themselves from bandits.

    He said” ”The government has become irresponsible. That is why a Fulani man has become an outcast in his own country.

    “All his wealth has been crippled to activities of cattle rustlers. What do you expect him to do?

    “Let everybody protect themselves, let everybody carry arms. You don’t allow few bandits to come and ruin you, kill you, kill your family as few people cannot be terrorizing everybody.”

    He added: ”Though in a normal situation nobody should be allowed to carry arms except those that are legalised to do so but if the Federal government had taken the responsibility of protecting lives of citizens serious, no one would dare have reason to carry arms.

    “You need to ask yourself is the government doing enough to protect the lives of herdsmen.

    “I won’t fault Governor Bala Mohammed for the statement, he is very right. After all he did not say herdsmen should go and cause chaos.

    “No one faulted Benue Governor, Ortom when he said herdsmen should leave his state. So why are they criticising Bauchi governor?”

  • BREAKING: Akeredolu, other Govs, Miyetti Allah meet over vacation order

    BREAKING: Akeredolu, other Govs, Miyetti Allah meet over vacation order

    Governors of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kebbi, and Jigawa States on Monday held a meeting with the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) at the International Culture and Events Centre in Akure, Ondo State capital.

    The NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi in his welcome remarks highlighted some issues expected to be resolved at the meeting:

    These include addressing issues of crimes and criminality, the framework of engagement with MACBAN on security; and creating alternative security network like Amotekun.

    He added that the meeting is at the instance of the NGF and is not planned but necessitated by the exigencies of the present challenges of insecurity in the country.

    He also pointed out that no eviction order to Fulani herdsmen in Ondo or any other state in the southwest.

    According to Fayemi, the Ondo Governor only directed that all herdsmen should register for them to operate in the state forest reserves.

    The NGF Chairman said ethnic profiling has to stop and all tribes in Nigeria are faced by the insecurity challenge. Fulanis too are victims of crime such as cattle rustling.

    Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, and police authorities are also at the meeting.

    Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu last week ordered herdsmen to vacate all forest reserves in the state within the next seven days.

    The Governor, who made the proclamation via Twitter, said the order had become imperative due to the increasing incidents of kidnap cases in the state.

    “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom, and carrying out other criminal activities,” Akeredolu said.

    This order generated controversies with the Federal Government in a statement by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu saying Akeredolu being a senior lawyer would be the least expected to unilaterally expel thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals.

  • Herders: Ondo eviction begins today as South-West Govs, Miyetti Allah meet

    Herders: Ondo eviction begins today as South-West Govs, Miyetti Allah meet

    Ahead of Monday’s meeting between South-West governors and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, groups, including the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere and its northern counterpart, the Arewa Consultative Forum, on Sunday called for a peaceful resolution of the eviction notice given to herdsmen in Ondo State’s forest reserves.

    While the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, in an interview with The PUNCH said the group’s focus was peace, Afenifere stated that one side should not regard itself as the master of others in the Nigerian federation.

    But the Ondo State Government said it was prepared to begin enforcement of the eviction notice on Monday (today). It, however, assured Nigerians that the exercise would not be violent.

    Recall that a seven-day ultimatum, which the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, gave Fulani herdsmen on Monday to vacate the state’s forest reserves, had generated a lot of controversies.

    The Presidency faulted the governor, saying he acted outside his powers, but the state government insisted that it would not withdraw the order to quit, which it described as lawful.

    The PUNCH learnt that as Akeredolu’s seven-day ultimatum expired on Sunday, the South-West governors and the Miyetti Allah would meet on Monday.

    It was gathered that the meeting would be held in Akure, Ondo State capital. According to a source, the meeting is meant to find lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the South-West.

    The Ondo State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Garba, who confirmed the development, said the national leadership of the association had arrived in Akure in preparation for the meeting.

    He said, “The National Chairman of Miyetti Allah is in town now and I cannot talk about what we want to discuss at the meeting now but I can assure you that we are going to address the press tomorrow (Monday) after the meeting.”

    Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, called for sincerity from both sides, adding one should not regard itself as the master.

    He stated, “We are for peace meeting anytime and we advise both parties to be sincere. We must stop this issue of any side behaving as if we are in a master-servant union. We are equal citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    While the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, in an interview with The PUNCH said the group’s focus was peace, Afenifere stated that one side should not regard itself as the master of others in the Nigerian federation.

    But the Ondo State Government said it was prepared to begin enforcement of the eviction notice on Monday (today). It, however, assured Nigerians that the exercise would not be violent.

    Recall that a seven-day ultimatum, which the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, gave Fulani herdsmen on Monday to vacate the state’s forest reserves, had generated a lot of controversies.

    The Presidency faulted the governor, saying he acted outside his powers, but the state government insisted that it would not withdraw the order to quit, which it described as lawful.

    We learnt that as Akeredolu’s seven-day ultimatum expired on Sunday, the South-West governors and the Miyetti Allah would meet on Monday.

    It was gathered that the meeting would be held in Akure, Ondo State capital. According to a source, the meeting is meant to find lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the South-West.

    The Ondo State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Garba, who confirmed the development, said the national leadership of the association had arrived in Akure in preparation for the meeting.

    He said, “The National Chairman of Miyetti Allah is in town now and I cannot talk about what we want to discuss at the meeting now but I can assure you that we are going to address the press tomorrow (Monday) after the meeting.”

    In an interview with The PUNCH, Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, called for sincerity from both sides, adding one should not regard itself as the master.

    He stated, “We are for peace meeting anytime and we advise both parties to be sincere. We must stop this issue of any side behaving as if we are in a master-servant union. We are equal citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Miyetti Allah bans children from grazing in Kaduna

    Miyetti Allah bans children from grazing in Kaduna

    Members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) have been directed to stop under-aged children from grazing cattle in Kaduna State.

    The announcement was made in a communiqué jointly signed by Kaduna MACBAN Chairman, Alhaji Usman Haruna Tugga; Zone III Chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa; Director, Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Bayero Zango and state’s Zone III Secretary, Alhaji Shuaibu Mogauri Usman MACBAN. 

    According to MACBAN leaders, the new directive will prevent further destructions of farm produce of farmers that could result in crisis.

    It read; 

    “The summit after all the deliberations it has reached the following resolutions: That we have agreed to reverse to our olden days relationship with our neighbouring communities in the area.

    “We are appealing to farmers to allow our cattle graze on recognized cattle routes.

    “We have agreed to bury our differences and be our brothers’ keepers henceforth in order to foster development in the area.

    “We call on our people to stop allowing the under age children from rearing cattle in order to prevent further destruction’s of farm produce of the farmers within the area and beyond.

    “We also advised our people to be vigilant and hand over suspected criminals to security agencies that may be found within our communities.

    “The summit strongly commended the efforts of Commanders of Operation Safe Haven and all his officers and men for their tireless efforts toward the restoration of peace in Southern Kaduna we have never seen this kind of efforts from military commander before.

    “Based on this reason we pledged our total support to the security outfits and all its efforts to restore total peace and security in Southern Kaduna.

    “We also wish to commend all the security agencies working tirelessly to restore peace to southern kaduna.

    “We appeal to the federal and Kaduna State Government to assist those who have lost their cattle’s and other source of livelihood in other to alleviate the hardship that the victims are facing.

    “We call for the establishment joint community peace and security at all levels to monitor and maintain peace among neighboring communities.”

  • “Stay off Igbo land” – IPOB issues warning to Miyetti Allah over vigilante group

    “Stay off Igbo land” – IPOB issues warning to Miyetti Allah over vigilante group

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday, warned the Miyetti Allah vigilante group to steer clear of the southeast region.

    IPOB issued the warning in response to an alleged plan by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to formally launch its nationwide vigilante group.

    A statement signed by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, warned that the group was fully ready to defend the Southeast against any incursion by Miyetti Allah’s vigilante.

    IPOB alleged that the vigilante group was aimed at fulfilling the Islamization agenda of Usman Dan Fodio.

    The group, however, warned that Miyetti Allah vigilantes would meet stiff resistance in the Southeast.

    According to the group: “It has come to the attention of the global family of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, that the Miyetti Allah Hore Kautal, has perfected plans to formally launch its much -talked -about national vigilante group. According to our intelligence, Miyetti Allah also wants to deploy its vigilantes across the country immediately after the launching.

    “We know their mission; contrary to the lies they are feeding the gullible public with, they are rather coming to fulfill the order by their father, Usman Dan Fodio who, in 1960, charged Muslims to deep the Quoran into the Atlantic Ocean. But we assure them that they will meet their Waterloo in the entire Biafra land.

    “We want to declare in unmistakable terms, that no Miyetti Allah vigilante is needed or will be allowed to operate in any part of Biafra land. They may operate in other parts of Nigeria but not on any Biafra soil.

    “IPOB is ready for them irrespective of the sophistry of those backing them. We are very formidable and fully ready to defend our land against these vampires! We don’t need them, and will never give them any inch of our land. We shall repel them and chase them back to the Sahel.

    “How can we allow globally recognized terrorists and those who rape and maim after butchering others to police our communities? This can never happen!”