By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri The Northern Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria has blamed the Miyetii Allah, for the widespread viole...
By Chinonso Alozie,
Owerri
The Northern Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria has
blamed the Miyetii Allah, for the widespread violence perpetrated by
suspected “killer herdsmen” in Igboland
and other regions of the country even as they called on the Federal government
to screen the foreign Fulani entry into Nigeria from the Central Republic.
This was the position of the Cattle Dealers Association, Imo
state chapter led by Ibrahim Salihi, when they paid a courtesy visit to the
Chairman Elders Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, in
Owerri.
According to them, the Miyetti Allah were the people who
always intervene whenever this dangerous group of “killer herdsmen” were
arrested by security operatives either for destroying farmlands or other wicked
activities, adding that after some days they would be freed.
However, they also called on the Federal government as well
as state governors to screen the entry of Fulanis from the Central Republic
especially those of Lubwa, ethnic group.
According to Salihi,
“Banditry did not start today, it started during Abacha regime, we have herders
who came into Nigeria From Central Africa. There is an ethnic group in the
Fulani tribe that are carrying AK 47, and are the most wicked people.
“The Miyetti Allah not helping matters they are allying with
this group, for instance, if your farms are destroyed by this group the Miyetti
Allah is supposed to intervene by asking the herders to pay compensation. But
they are supporting this group who are doing this à nd carrying arms. The
Miyetti Allah is encouraging these people to destroy farms.
“For example, you have your farm and I have my own and I
destroy your own instead of saying sorry for destroying my farms you say that I
will pay you, and if you pay me today and you don’t pay me tomorrow, I will be angry and I will cut your cow and
from there the problem starts and they will invite their people from Niger to
come and fight for them. Fulani man carrying guns is not a lie even us who are
not with them they kill our cows.”
He continued: “Another problem is that the Federal
Government is not doing enough, as they are not screening these people coming
in from Central Africa into Nigeria. The
Federal Government should check Fulanis coming into the country à nd even the
state governments should do the same.
“Our reason for coming here is to appeal to Chief
Iwuanyanwu, to intervene in the insecurity in the land and that our people from
the North are calling us to come back to the North and that bandits are killing
the northerners in the East.”
Reacting, the Chairman Elders Forum of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, said: “You have the right to leave in any
part of the country. It is also wrong for governments to watch bandits kill and
burn police stations and I want to tell you that those who are killing in
Igboland are not Igbos. They are criminals. Let me also tell you that the
situation in Imo state is under control. The governor is doing his best to
restore peace which we have seen in the past few weeks. Anytime you receive any
threat report to us.”
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