The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has accused indigenous security outfits in the South-East of being responsible for the killings of their members in the region.
MACBAN’s National Deputy Director-General, Gidado Siddiki, made this claim while speaking to reporters in Enugu.
He stated that over the past two months, they have lost 16 individuals and hundreds of cattle in Anambra and Enugu States.
Siddiki expressed distress over the incidents, noting that some perpetrators were seen wearing uniforms similar to those of forest guards.
He urged authorities to conduct thorough investigations and bring the culprits to justice.
“Regrettably, we have consistently found ourselves targeted by criminal elements and at the same time, unfairly blamed for criminal acts we have no involvement in.
“Our markets have been indiscriminately destroyed under the guise of rooting out criminality, yet no evidence of wrongdoing has been found.
“Even in the remote areas where we graze our cattle, we face increasing threats from criminals without due response from the government or local leadership.
“We appeal to the government of the South East and the leaders of our host communities to recognise us as strategic stakeholders and refrain from unfounded attribution of wrongdoing to every herdsman out there.
“We implore them to support us in times of need and instruct their security forces to discern between genuine pastoralists and criminal elements masquerading as such,” Siddiki said.
He emphasized that MACBAN is a legitimate pastoralist organization involved in lawful cattle tending across Nigeria, noting, however, they have been wrongfully perceived as criminals.
MACBAN expressed deep concern about the violence against their members and livestock, as well as the baseless accusations leveled against them in some parts of the South-East.
