Terrorism: Miyetti Allah Begs To Remain Unproscribed

Terrorism: Miyetti Allah Begs To Remain Unproscribed  The Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) aka "Miyetti Allah" have...

Terrorism: Miyetti Allah Begs To Remain Unproscribed 

The Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) aka "Miyetti Allah" have pleaded not to be proscribed by the federal government of Nigeria.

This plea came after the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom on the 6th of January 2022 called for the federal government of Nigeria to proscribe the group.

The governor who spoke through his chief press secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur said that the Fulanis have vowed to ferment trouble in Benue State.

A portion of the statement released reads thus “...though the federal government’s measures on bandits now seems strong, the security challenges will only be adequately addressed if similar hard position is taken on Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, 

MACBAN and the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) who have vowed to bring mayhem upon Benue State and other parts of the country because of the anti-grazing law”.

Another part of the statement talking about the anti-grazing law reads “... the law has come to stay. It is irrevocable. In fact, we have maintained our position that Benue State has no grazing routes, reserves or areas".

Nathaniel Ikyur also read in the statement that the anti-grazing law was enacted in good faith for peace and order in the Benue State. It was done among other things to end the incessant farmers/herdsmen clashes in the state.

Nigerians have absorbed enough hunger and misery in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) misrule. President Buhari is aware that Nigerians are dying from his misrule, but he and people in his government have continuously added fuel to the fire.

The group Miyetti Allah while reacting to the call by the governor said through it's national secretary, Baba Ngelzarma that Ortom’s request is unpatriotic, claiming that the governor’s hatred for the Fulani was not in doubt. Ngelzarma said went on to say that “governor Ortom has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is an unreliable leader”.

The secretary of Miyetti Allah also said, "...we therefore, call on the federal government to ignore this unpatriotic call by a wayward governor who is hell-bent on putting this country into unnecessary crisis.

“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.” he added.

On the other hand, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) backs the call by the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom that Miyetti Allah ought to have been declared a terrorist group. And has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently declare the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, as a terrorist group.

HURIWA blamed the MACBAN for the action of the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen that reportedly shot three persons dead in Molege an agrarian settlement in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

According to the group(HURIWA), President Buhari must arrest the national and regional leaders of the group across the nation to ensure the end of killing and kidnapping in Nigeria.

Likewise, The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have repeatedly maintained that "there is no difference between the MACBAN and bandits who were recently designated as a terrorist group." IPOB have said that Buhari must declear the terrorists supporting platform known as Miyetti Allah as a terrorist group and apprehend the national and regional leaders of this warmongers who have in the recent past vocalised active support for the terrorist groups made up of armed Fulani herdsmen who are on rampage in different parts of the country.

Written by Onyemachi Gabriel

Edited by Cindy Etuk

For Family Writers Press International