In the South-East, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has pointed fingers at indigenous security groups for the deaths of its members.
Gidado Siddiki, MACBAN’s National Deputy Director-General, spoke to reporters in Enugu with members and alleged that in the past two months, they have lost 16 individuals and hundreds of cattle in Anambra and Enugu States.
He expressed concern over some attackers appearing like forest guards and wearing similar uniforms, urging a thorough investigation by authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Unfortunately, we have been consistently targeted by criminals and wrongly accused of crimes we are not involved in,” Siddiki stated.
“Our markets have been destroyed under the guise of fighting crime, yet no evidence of wrongdoing has been found.
“In the areas where we graze our cattle, we are increasingly threatened by criminals with little response from the government or local leaders,” he added.
“We appeal to the South-East government and community leaders to recognize us as vital stakeholders and avoid unjustly attributing wrongdoing to all herdsmen.
“They should offer us support and direct their security forces to differentiate between genuine pastoralists and criminals posing as such,” Siddiki emphasized.
MACBAN asserted that they are a lawful pastoralist organization tending to cattle across Nigeria, disputing being perceived as criminals.
The group expressed deep concern over violence against their members and livestock, as well as baseless accusations in parts of the South-East.