Hostile media reports on herders fuel crisis — MACBAN

Nasarawa State branch of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has blamed the media for hostile reports against Fulani herders, saying these are some of the factors fuelling the crisis.

State chairman of MACBAN, Muhammed Hussaini, stated this at weekend in a chat with newsmen in Lafia.

He said the style of biased and demonic media reportage of the current farmers, herders conflict by tagging all herders as criminals is responsible for the escalation of the crisis.

Hussaini said some of these media reports expose Fulani herders to hatred because the media has now painted herders as criminals.

“A criminal is a criminal whether he or she is Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or Fulani, but why generalize the Fulanis when some of them commit any crime?” he asked.

Hussaini also attributed the spill over of the attacks and killings in border towns to the anti-open grazing law enacted by the Benue government, adding, “Since the commencement of the current hostilities, we have been under attacks by armed militia groups, in which lots of our people were killed, some are still missing

Hussaini said security agencies should investigate and arrest the criminal elements responsible for the attacks and bring them to justice.

He commended the Nasarawa state government and heads of security agencies in the state for the proactive steps they took in handling security matters.