The call by some Anglican bishops on the Federal Government to declare herdsmen as terrorists has been rejected by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), the umbrella body for herdsmen in the country.
According to Vanguard, the Anglican bishops made their position known in a communique signed by Bishop, Diocese of Western Izon, Rev. Edafe Emamezi, at the end of the first session of the 4th synod of the Diocese of Western Izon (Anglican Communion) held at St. Peter’s Church Bomadi, Delta State.
The bishops expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the government to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and declare other groups demanding their rights as terrorist groups while leaving out the herdsmen, who have allegedly killed many farmers and raped their wives.
But the National Coordinator, MACBAN, Alhaji Garus Gololo, rejected the “terrorist” appellation, saying herdsmen in Nigeria were not terrorists but peacekeeping citizens.
Gololo also urged the Anglican bishops to withdraw the comment, saying that MACBAN would not hesitate to challenge any similar future comment in court.
“We are not happy with this comment coming from the Bishops who are spiritual heads of the Anglican Church; we want them to withdraw it.
“We are not criminals and the President has nothing to do with us. We are not terrorists, we are peacekeeping citizens.
“We have the right to graze anywhere in the world, not even in Nigeria, because that is the business we came for. So, if the Bishops ask the President to declare herdsmen as criminals, so every man they see rearing cow will be killed. It is very wrong.
“We are not happy with this comment and if they make comments as such next time, we will challenge it in the court.”
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