The National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma, has distanced the group from last weekend’s massacre of more than 100 persons in Plateau State.
He equally distanced the group from a statement allegedly made by the MACBAN North Central Zone Chairman, Danladi Ciroma, that the killings were in retaliation for the rustling of 300 cows.
Ciroma has since vehemently denied making the statement credited to him.
Ngelzarma made the clarifications to correct the impression that Miyetti Allah was in support of the killings.
Vanguard quoted him as saying, “The statement (allegedly) made by our Zonal Chairman is not our position. He was not mandated in any way to represent the national body of the association. To that extent, we consider that as his personal opinion because that is not the position of Miyetti Allah. Up till now, we have not made public our position. Before we release a position on an issue as sensitive as this one, we have to call a meeting of the executive council, discuss, analyse and get inputs from our branch in Plateau State before telling the world our position.”
He added, “This is not the position of the association. The only people who are authorised to speak on issues of this nature to the public are the National President, my humble self as the National Secretary and the Public Relations Officer of the association after clearance by the EXCO.”
He called on the security agencies to redouble efforts to nip future killings in the bud.
“Security agencies have a responsibility and they have a way of doing their work. All our hopes are on the security agencies to end the killings in the country because, as I always say, our members are also affected considering what took place in so many places, from Demboro down to Kasa. Look at what happened to our members in these places. They have been suffering; they have been losing their lives, property. In Benue, for example, farmers are put in internally displaced persons camps, taken out of their comfort zone because of this crisis. Herdsmen are relocating, losing their cows and their lives; nobody is a winner in this crisis. The only solution is for security agencies to be up and doing in trying to bring the perpetrators of these killings to justice.”