The new National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has unveiled a four-point national agenda as a panacea to the age-long farmer-herder clashes in the country.
This was at a thank you visit to the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for his support all through the process that brought on board the new leadership of the Association.
He said his administration would pursue the national agenda under the acronym CORE: Consultations, Orientation, Reintegration and Empowerment.
“We have to go round the country to orient pastoralists towards peace and pursuing their peaceful business of cow rearing.
“Cow rearing is a business. We are more of a trade group doing our legitimate business.
“We are not a criminal group and this group also needs protection from the government”, he said.
According to the National President, there has been a general loss of sense of belonging among the pastoralists in recent times due to extortion, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflict, cattle rustling and banditry, which they have been at the receiving end.
“Instead of seeing them as victims, the generality of the country sees them as the criminals. Our members are not criminals”, he insisted.
He assured that MACBAN would draw the government’s attention towards empowering members of the Association who are victims of the crisis.
“This is because there has never been a time when the pastoralists were supported or assisted after losing their means of livelihood from the protracted Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of insecurity in most parts of the country.
“Pastoralists have gone through hell and fire as them have virtually lost their source of livelihood”, he claimed.
On the encroachment of grazing reserves, national and international cattle routes, Baba Usman Ngelzarma blamed the menace on urbanization and the high demand for land, which he said is not growing.
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