Miyetti Allah petitions Osinbajo over ‘annihilation’ of Fulani in Plateau
The Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has petitioned Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over an alleged tactical and professional “annihilation” of Fulani community by Beron militias in Fan and Forom Districts of Barikin Ladi Local Government Area.
The group said the petition was written to Osinbajo because of his position as the head of a 10-member working committee of the National Economic Council on the herdsmen/ farmers conflicts.
In a 40-page petition jointly signed by its chairman, Muhammad Nuru Abdullahi and secretary, Abdullahi Ardo, the group said from July 25 to date, about 17 innocent Fulani herdsmen were killed and 1, 560 cows worth N158.1m and 84 sheep rustled.
It urged Osinbajo to order the release of about 23 Fulani from the custody of the monitoring unit of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.
“We want you to kindly appeal to both the state and federal government to be fair and just in intensifying efforts through investigation, release of innocent Fulani arrested, recovery of cattle and punish those found wanting,” the group said.
When contacted, spokesperson of the Berom communities in the state, Mr. Jatau Davou, described the allegations as baseless and malicious, saying they were fabricated by Miyetti Allah to play the victim rather than the oppressors.
He said: “We are the host community and our people are being attacked and killed daily, the Miyetti Allah just came with a mission that they want to achieve. Their allegations weren’t only baseless, but malicious.”