By Kamsi Anayo
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has said that the spate of insecurity in the South-East was not targeted at herders or its members.
Chairman of MACBAN, in the South East zone, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, said in Enugu, against the backdrop of the burning of a truck-load of cattle along Uga-Ezinifite-Igboukwu Road in Anambra on May 8, 2022.
Since the incident, there had been hostile exchange of words between the herders’ association called Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
Siddiki, however, said that although the incident was reprehensible, the situation needed not be allowed to degenerate and asked that the perpetrators be brought to book
According to him, the security challenge in the South-East was not an isolated case from the totality of the situation in the country.
Siddiki attributed the surge in criminal activities to injustice, inequity and unemployment, noting further, that the various levels of government had a role to play at addressing the challenge.
His words, “It is evident that while our herders are victims of the dastardly operations by the hoodlums, other Nigerians, including indigenes have also fallen victims.
“Government and private valuables have been lost to these gangs.
“It is, therefore, a burden on society which everyone and the government are called upon to contribute to its reduction and eventual eradication.
“While MACBAN continues to sue for peace among aggrieved Nigerians across ethnic divides, we advise the relevant organs of government to fish out the lawless elements causing harm across the country.
“We call on the various levels of government to galvanise efforts toward improving the lives of Nigerians by issuing policies that will drastically reduce the huge population of Nigerians in abject poverty.
“It is beyond contestation that hunger, deprivation and extreme poverty breed unruly acts that include criminality and other anti-social indulgences.”
Siddiki expressed optimism that the daunting security challenges in the country would soon be over, pointing out that MACBAN would not subscribe to the mode of altercation between the two aforementioned interests or organisations.