FROM MIJINYAWA BABA-UTHMAN MINNA
A total of 15,000 pastoralists were killed by armed bandits while over four million others were displaced within the last ten years, the National President of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Othman Baba Ngazalma has disclosed.
He explained that the pastoralists across the country Particularly within the North west and North Central states suffered unprecedented casualties in the hands of criminally minded elements as a result of the activities of armed bandits stating that they are at the recieving end of the banditry attacks compared to other Nigerians.
Speaking with Journalists shortly after an emergency National executive Council meeting of the association held at the weekend in Paiko town hall Alhaji Baba Othman stated that the association expressed dismay over the manner in which the military and the vigilante are looting and killing of their cattles without just cause.
According to the National President, MACBAN as an organization, have mapped out strategies to shave the behavior of the fulani youths across the country against all forms of crimes and criminality bedeviling the country.
saying," we have deliberated extensively on how to fish out bad eggs among the pastorists fold and how to sensitize them against the use of illicit drugs and to check the proliferation of small arms and light weapons within the pastorists Community"
He noted that the association under his Leadership is Disturbed with the increasing rates of hardship and the high cost of food stuffs in the country stating that the association has decided to help the goverment to complement in solving the food crisis in the country.
He said MACBAN has not spoken since the inception of the hardship that the citizens were subjected to as a result of the increasing rates of poverty across the country stressing that the association is worried and a lasting solution to alleviate the suffering of the citizens will be prefer by his leadership as the president of MACBAN.
Speaking further, Alhaji Othman Baba Ngazalma, told Journalists that the government of Niger State under the leadership of governor Mohammed Umar Bago will continue to be accorded the Unflishing Supports and cooperation by the pastorists Community for creating the Ministry for Nomadic and pastorists affairs in the state.
He said the governor has exhibited high level of his passionate for the Fulani Community in Niger State urging other states governors in the country to emulate the Niger State governor by creating the Ministry of Nomadic in their respective states.
" Governor Umar Mohammed Bago has really proved to the Fulani Community in Niger State that he is so passionate about their affairs.
" For the governor to create the Ministry for Nomadic and pastorists affairs and appointed one of our as a Commissioner, is an exhibition of his love for the pastorists Community in the state.
" We in MACBAN will continue to appreciate governor Umar Mohammed Bago for his love and passion for the pastorists Community in Niger State. I'm calling on other state govenors across the country to follow suit in their respective states" he stated.
