The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has distanced its members from the atrocities being perpetrated in the South East geopolitical zone.
The South East zonal chairman of the group, Alhaji Siddiki Gidado, said it was wrong to point accusing fingers at Fulani herdsmen for kidnappings and killings in the region.
He said that although some Fulani bag eggs could be involved in the atrocities, the bulk of those criminal activities were traceable to non-Fulani criminals.
The Herald recalls that suspected Fulani herdsmen were blamed for the recent killing of a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Paul Offu in Enugu State.
Offu’s killing led to a massive protest involving more than 200 Catholic priests, many of who bore placards condemning Fulani herdsmen.
But Gidado, who spoke with Guardian, said that cattle rearers of Igbo, Tiv, Jukun, Kanuri , Shua Arabs and Kanuri origin were responsible for the kidnappings and killings for which Fulani herdsmen were being blamed.
“In every tribe, you have bad eggs and when some evil acts are carried out, the entire tribe is made to take the blame.
“Most killings are attributed to Fulani when they are not the culprits,” Gidado said.
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