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Tag: Miyetti Allah

  • Fulani disclaims Ardo Bulama over viral video on S/Kaduna killings

    Fulani disclaims Ardo Bulama over viral video on S/Kaduna killings

    By Ujah Simon, Kaduna

    Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, a Fulani umbrella body, has disclaim Ardo Bulama, in viral video blastfamine southern indigenes of no religion, saying no Fulani man bears such name in Nigeria.

    MACBAN, in a statement issued in Kaduna by it’s Director Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Bayero Zango, on Thursday, stated that “anybody who thinks or consider that such name is related to fulanis is a wrong impression.

    MACBAN was reacting to the petition by the National Christian Elders Forum to the inspector General of Police, calling their attention to arrest prosecute one Ardo Bulama for treasonable felony, a petition published in a national daily on the 15th August, 2020.

    “In that regard we consider such claims and thinking that the name Bulama could be related or connected to Fulani is a wrong impression and it bellies the ignorance of the petitioners on the culture of the Fulani pastoralist in Nigeria.

    “We are hereby calling the attention of the petitioners to know that no Fulani man bears the name “Bulama.

    “I wish to categorically state that even the purported Bulama’s claimed audio that went viral on social media was suspicious. It was just an attempt to blackmail the entire Fulani pastoralist in Nigeria to create a negative impression against our people. (Fulani Pastoralist).
    “We are not unaware of efforts by some undesirable elements who have been making fanatic efforts to classify all Fulani’s as terrorists.
    “The National Christian Elders Forum is one of those groups who are hell bent on blackmailing the Fulani’s in Nigeria for their vested interests; for the NCEF to consider the said viral audio as a serious issue and giving it such a publicity, clearly indicates that the forum itself is suspicious considering the caliber of the signatories of the petition.
    “We suspect that the NCEF, has a hand in the origin, production and circulation of the viral audio considering the manner with which the forum went about its petition. There are many similar audios that are going around including the Christians threatening Fulani’s in Nigeria”, it stated.

    According to them, calling on Fulani man, Bulama is just like calling a Yoruba man Chukuma or Okonkwo or calling an Igbo man Babatunde or Olajide, calling on the Inspector General of Police to properly and thoroughly investigate the origin of the whole issue and bring fabricators of the audio to justice.
    “We also appeal to our brothers and helpers, the Fulani’s in Nigeria to remain calm and law abiding as usual”, it stated.

  • Ohanaeze to FG: caution Miyetti Allah over provocative statements

    Ohanaeze to FG: caution Miyetti Allah over provocative statements

    The apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has asked the Federal Government to call to order the Miyetti Allah, the umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen in the country, over their incessant unguarded and provocative statements and threats capable of setting the country ablaze.

    In a statement, Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemned the effrontery of Miyetti Allah in seeking a constitutional arrangement that would make them take over the security of the entire South East.

    In a story that has gone viral, Miyetti Allah asked the Federal Government to make a constitutional provision that would enable them to take over security in the South East as a panacea to the nefarious activities of their fellow herdsmen in the region.

    But reacting to the proposal, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Mr Arthur Obiora, frowned at the suggestion which he said was an affront to the youth of Igbo land.

    Obiora said that the suggestion implied that Ndigbo were incapable of guarding their place and that unless Miyetti Allah were allowed to have their way, the constant killings, raping and harassment of the people of Igbo land would continue unabated.

    The Youth Wing Leader admonished the Miyetti Allah and warned that it has become apparent that the herdsmen are not prepared to coexist with their hosts for their mutual benefit, but to take over their land for the grazing of their cattle.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo wondered what fate would have befallen any Igbo organisation that dared to make such an infuriating, provocative and impetuous demand in the North.

    The Youth Leader warned that since the Miyetti Allah was underrating the ability and capacity of Igbo youth to sufficiently man and protect their land from Marauders, they would henceforth ensure that any future flagrant breach of peace in Igbo land by anybody or group would be met with stiff penalties and reprisals.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterated that while Ndigbo are committed to playing benevolent hosts to anybody or group that wants to do genuine business and coexist with the people, stiff penalties would henceforth attend any act of brigandage or callous acts from any quarters.
    Ohanaeze Ndigbo said that it was the indifference of the Federal Government to the hideous activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country that gave the Miyetti Allah the audacity and unbridled arrogance to venture such a vituperation.

    It called on the Federal Government to publicly denounce the call by the Miyetti Allah to prove its noncomplicity in the demand which could set the country ablaze.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo noted that while the county’s constitution guaranteed everybody free movement and residence anywhere, it doesn’t permit killings, harassment or intimidation by or on any group in any manner.

  • I never said Fulani will rule Nigeria forever – Miyetti Allah President

    I never said Fulani will rule Nigeria forever – Miyetti Allah President

    National President of Miyetti, Abdullahi Bodejo, has denied claims saying that he said Fulani will rule Nigeria forever and was raising 100,000 militiamen to achieve that.

    He said the news report was not true and was aimed at maligning his image.

    He therefore called on Nigerians to disregard it.

    Bodejo disclosed this in a statement on Sunday while reacting to comments credited to him that no other tribe would be allowed to rule Nigeria except Fulani.

    He said, “My attention has been drawn to a news report making rounds in the social media to the effect that as National President of Miyetti Allah I made claims that Nigeria is a Fulbe country and that the Fulbe can enter anywhere without permission. And that the Fulbe are also raising 100,000 militiamen to enforce their will on every community in this country.

    “I want to state clearly and unequivocally that this news report is a fabricated lie.

    “It is actually the enemies of the Fulbe people that are at it again, as always, concocting such insidious and malicious falsehood against our people for their diabolical agenda against the Nigerian state.”

  • Miyetti Allah seeks members’ inclusion in Operation Amotekun

    Miyetti Allah seeks members’ inclusion in Operation Amotekun

    The Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Oyo State chapter, has called for the inclusion of its members in the proposed Amotekun initiative in the state.
    Alhaji Yaqub Bello, a former Chairman of MACBAN in the state, made the call on Monday during a public hearing on the Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill, 2020, also known as Amotekun bill.
    Bello, while expressing the support of the association to the Amotekun initiative, insisted that only haters of truth would oppose such a move.
    “Some of us have been in Oyo state for over 40 years, cohabiting with the natives, married Yoruba women and have children.
    “So, our request is to include Myetti Allah as members of Operation Amotekun to enhance the job of the outfit, since we know the terrain of where we rear our cattle.
    “Having Fulani among the outfit will make it easier for Amotekun men to distinguish between genuine herdsmen and the criminals while on patrol.
    “A Fulani man can also serve as an interpreter while interrogating any suspected herdsman,” Bello said.
    He admitted that the major objective of the initiative was to curb criminal activities in the society and not to witch hunt any particular body or ethnic group.
    Describing his members as law abiding, he said that none of them had been involved in any form of criminal activity, adding that rather, they had been carrying out their legitimate business, that is, cattle rearing.
    Other speakers at the public hearing included representative of the Nigerian Police Force, the Peace Corps and the Agbekoya Farmers’ Association.
    Others were the Local Hunters’ Group, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Political Awareness Group and representatives of Chief Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land.
    Mrs Funke Fawole, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Mr Sina Olukolu, said that the outfit should act in accordance with the provision of the Fire Arms Acts, if the personnel must carry arms.
    Fawole also said that men of the outfit should be properly trained on the use of arms and ammunition to avoid its misuse.
    In his contribution, Chief Gboyega Adejumo, who represented Gani Adams, said issuance of license for firearms was very vital for the operations of the security outfit.
    He said that the use of Dane gun would not be effective for their operations, saying hoodlums and criminal-minded persons might use the chance of not carrying arms to attack the operatives.
    Also, Prof Abideen Olaiya, representative of the Muslim community in the state, urged the operatives of Amotekun not to use it to settle political scores or as an avenue for jungle justice.
    Earlier, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said part of the objectives of the security outfit was to share intelligence report about crime, crime in progress, suspicious activities and other criminal activities.
    “Others include collaboration with similar security agency, particularly in Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states to deter kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, cultism, highway robbery and other offences, and also to assist the police in apprehending such criminals.
    “It is also meant to protect lives and property within the state and ensure that people travelling on the highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterland, forest and inland waterways carry out their normal socio-economic activities without fear or hindrance,” Oyewo stated.
    The Amotekun bill committee, headed by Mr Akeem Obadara, the State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Security and Strategy, received 22 memoranda.
    Abiodun Fadeyi, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, presided over the public hearing. (NAN)

  • Miyetti Allah bans night grazing in Nasarawa

    Miyetti Allah bans night grazing in Nasarawa

    The Nasarawa State chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria says it has banned night grazing, to reduce the conflicts between the farmers and herders.

    MACBAN’s Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lafia.

    Hussaini said the association had also banned the use of under-aged children for grazing, blaming most destruction of crops on them and night grazing.

    He said the group had already directed its members to comply with the ban.

    The chairman noted that any violation of the directive would not be tolerated, adding that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.

    “We are not saying that children should not graze, but they must be in company with adults.

    “To allow children with cattle on their own, without being guided by adults henceforth cannot be tolerated; anyone caught would be sanctioned, to serve as a deterrent to others,” the Miyetti Allah chieftain said.

    He, however, advised farmers to desist from cultivating and blocking cattle routes, to enable the Fulani to go about their grazing without any problem.

    The chairman called on other ethnic groups in the state to expose criminal elements among them, just like the Fulani are doing, to sanitise the state.

    According to him, the society cannot be secured, if good people continue to harbour and protect criminals on the basis of sentiments.

    “You cannot harbour criminals and just pray and wish that the country should be free of crimes.

    “All hands must be on deck, to support the government in fighting crime and criminal elements in the country.”