Miyetti Allah reacts to alleged plots to use killer herdsmen to forcibly take S’East lands

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has refuted trending reports that it plans to use killer herdsmen to attack and forcibly takeover some lands in South East part of the country.

The South East branch of herdsmen leadership made the denial in a statement on Tuesday, asking the general public to disregard the news, adding that the group enjoys a warm relationship with the people of South East.

Reports trending on social media had quoted Miyetti Allah as recently declaring at a meeting in Abuja that since governors of South East states have refused to allocate grazing land for herdsmen in the area, that they would take the lands by force using killer herdsmen.

But refuting the report, South East zone chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, told newsmen in Awka, Anambra State capital, that the news of an alleged plot to attack the zone was fake news.

“Few days ago, we woke up to a malicious publication in the social media purporting a phantom statement in Abuja entitled ‘South East will boil any moment from now because of their stubbornness’ ascribed to the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and erroneously ascribed to me.

“While it is my wish to inform the public that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria did not make any statement to the effect of the content of the publication either in Abuja or anywhere for that matter, I humbly wish to correctly place my designation as the Chairman of South East zone of the association and not the leader of cattle breeders in Nigeria as I was addressed in the publication.

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“Again, I wish to put it on record that the South East zone of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and her cattle herder members whom I serve, as the zonal chairman, enjoy warm relationship with the governors, governments and people of South East Nigeria.

“I wish to state that this warmth has not been completely devoid of flashes of momentary conflicts at few locations. Such instances were, however, promptly addressed by the authorities and warm commonality restored amongst the people.

“Given the increasing orientation and reorientation of our people and the local people who are our landlords, and given the strong commitment of the state governors towards peaceful relationship across board, one harbours no doubts that the relationship between our herders and their landlords can only be increasingly better as time progresses.

“It is therefore my intention, while dispelling the published rumour from the pit of malicious mischief, to share my upbeat spirit with all of us. It is my utmost belief that the sincere and committed understanding we all propagate today will yield us minimal rancour if not rancour free society tomorrow.

“I therefore wish to thank the governors of the South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo for their wonderful sense of accommodation, as I pledge our continued efforts towards greater harmonious environment for thriving economic activities and better life,” the statement read in part.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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