Benin city – The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has argued that, free trade zone within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region contributed to incessant clashes between farmers and herders in some parts of the country.
The National President, MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma stated this recently during a peace meeting convened by Edo state Commissioner of police, Johnson Kokumo, for farmers, herders and cattle owners, at the state command in Benin city.
MACBAN President who directed the association’s National Secretary, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa to speak on his behalf, decried the influx of cattle and their herders from neighbouring countries without recourse to the nation’s grazing laws.
Baba Othman disclosed that, the association will soon commence biometric registration of cattle herders across the country to fish out criminal elements from their midst.
The association which noted, the killings, maiming, destruction of properties are carried out by criminals and should be treated as such, asserted that, none of it members bear arms, unless cattle rustlers.
Miyetti Allah National President said, despite it members loss of more than 2million cattle to rustling, the association see farmers as their brothers, hence they embarked on sensitization of their members on the need to live peacefully with their host.
MACBAN, while commending Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki for his efforts to put an end to the crisis, kicked against night grazing and condemned the use of minor as cattle herders.
The body however condemned those it said are politicising the crisis to give cattle herders “a bad name”, and called on the media to avoid lopsided reportage as well as stick to the ethics guiding their profession.
