Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the recent killing of scores in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue.
Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, National President of MACBAN, stated this during a meeting with members of the association from Benue and Nasarawa States on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The association’s president also urged herders to embrace peace and settle all disputes with farmers in both states, and support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts toward restoring normalcy in the area.
He said that the meeting was convened to appeal to the herders to always refrain from any form of reprisal by taking laws into their own hands, saying that two wrongs can never make a right.
Othman-NgeIzarma noted that the prolonged conflicts between farmers and herders was the most heartbreaking reality facing the Northern part of Nigeria.
He explained that many lives, animals and property were lost, and both farmers and herded lost their means of livelihood due to the prolonged crisis.
The MACBAN President emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence for the survival and progress of its members and urged herders to be at the forefront of peace advocacy.
Othman-Ngelzarma further commended the efforts of the Federal, States, local governments areas and Civil Society Organisations towards for dousing tensions in both states.
“We must disown, isolate, and deal with elements within our ranks that promote confrontation and criminality.
“Let me make it clear that violence is not a solution. Retaliation is not justice. We must now embrace dialogue, empathy and mutual understanding.
“Our pastoral way of life can only continue to thrive if we live in peace with our neighbours, as such, we must actively engage in peace-building initiatives,” he said.
The MACBAN President called on traditional rulers of Fulani extraction – custodians of values and cultures, to rise and play a more assertive role in facilitating dialogue and reconciliation.
“We must also empower our youths with knowledge, skills, and opportunities for constructive livelihoods and use them as peace ambassadors instead of using them as agents of destruction,” he said.
Othman-Ngelzarma appreciated President Tinubu for his compassionate visit the people of Benue, and his determination to end the attacks.
He pointed out that henceforth, peace-building would be the priority of their members and urged them to report any case of attack or provocation to the leadership for prompt action.
“The President’s presence among the victims of these unfortunate crises has rekindled hope because the country belongs to all of us, farmers, herders, settlers and indigenes.
“To our brothers and sisters in the farming communities, we need you, and you need us because agriculture and livestock are two sides of the same coin.
“One cannot thrive without the other. Let us talk. Let us forgive. Let us plan together,” the MACBAN President added.
He therefore assured them that the Federal Government was interested in tackling the roots of the crisis to ensure that no side was left out.
Also speaking, Ardo Mohammed Risku, Benue MACBAN Chairman, appreciated the association’s president for the effort to restore peace in the area.
Risku assured that they would take the President’s message to their people and promised to expose criminal elements among them.
He also decried the arbitrary arrest of innocent harders by the security agencies and advised that it should stop in the interest of peace.
“There is nothing wrong if a criminal is arrested, but how can you explain situations where innocent herders are arrested simply because of their ethnicity,” he added.
The meeting was attended by leaders of the association from the two states as well as representatives of the security agencies including the Department of State Security Service and Nigeria Police Force.
