The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has written to the police over alleged attacks on Fulani herders in Anambra State.
MACBAN said there had been increasing violence against herders around Ayamelum, Anambra East, Orumba South, Dunukofia LGAs.
The South Eastern Zone Chapter reported the matter to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, E Department, Force Headquarters.
The letter signed by the Zonal Chairman, Gidado Siddiki, said the attacks resulted in casualties.
The formal complaint stated that 30 Fulani herders and 322 cows are missing.
“The lives of members of MACBAN are in danger in parts of these concerned communities.
“We, therefore, ask for your urgent interventions to forestall further loss of lives and properties,” it read.
Attacks on civilians and security operatives in Anambra have increased lately.
On Thursday, gunmen killed police officers, soldiers, burned a van and carted away their arms.
Recall that earlier in the week, Ekiti State Government warned that stiffer penalties will be meted out to herdsmen in the state who refused to register and get the identity card in consonance with the provision of the state Anti-Grazing Law.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Olabode Adetoyi, on Thursday stated this in Ado Ekiti, the State capital, during the official commencement of registration of herdsmen and farmers in the state.
Adetoyi said registration of herders and farmers in the state, apart from being an opportunity to fish out criminal elements, will ensure security of lives and property as well increase crop food production.
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He said other steps being taken by the state government to ensure lasting peace between herders and farmers included “ban on night grazing and using under-aged herders in Ekiti State.
“Part of the essence of the registration is to increase food security in Ekiti State. Food rate is just growing at 2.5 per cent, our population is increasing at 2.8 to 3 per cent, the food requirement is at 3 or 3.2 per cent.
“The essence of this now is that there is a demand supply gap and we need to close it. What is causing it is insecurity and we want to tackle it headlong in Ekiti State so that people can be able to go back to the farms and produce in higher quantity and quantity.
“In Ekiti State now, under the National Livestock Transformation Plan, we are bringing back our cattle ranch settlements at Oke Ako and Irele for whoever wants to graze their cattle. They will register there and provision will be made over there too,” he said.
Also, in Oyo State, residents of Saki and other communities in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State reportedly now live in fear following the alleged killing of a farmer by suspected Fulani herders at Oke Orogun village in Saki West Local Government Area.
According to Vanguard, the victim was tied to a tree before being hacked to death.
But the state police command said it was a case of armed robbery.
A source said the farmer was attacked on Saturday night and before people came for his rescue, he had died.
But after some youths in Saki saw his remains, they were enraged.
They protested and mobilised for a reprisal, burning the herders’ settlement in the area.
In a viral video, the angry youths were heard cursing the killers of the farmers.
CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, who insisted that it was an armed robbery attack, said, “Yes, it was a robbery incident which happened on March 12, 2021, where one Sukurupu (male) was killed. Irate youths in the area mobilised for a reprisal attack.
“The Area Commander, Saki, called a stakeholders’ meeting to broker peace. The area is relatively peaceful as aggrieved parties have agreed to the term. Police tactical teams are on the ground to curtail the untoward situation.”
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