The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called for the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission to begin the healing process in rural communities plagued by insecurity.
The group said it is creating vigilante groups across the country to assist security agencies in curbing criminality, including cattle rustling, banditry and kidnapping, the News Agency of Nigeria reported Monday.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is a socio-cultural organization that represents the interests of Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria.
The group has been accused of being involved in violence and criminal activities. The group denies this and says it has been a victim of violence, including extrajudicial killings by security forces.
The group made its position known in a communique issued at the end of its annual general meeting and delegates conference in Abuja on Monday. The communique was jointly signed by its national president, Abdullahi Bodejo; national secretary, Saleh Alhassan; and national deputy president, Mansur Abdulkarim.
Key details to note
The communique called on security agencies to commence the process of detailed documentation of violence against pastoralists, including the collection of exhibits and relevant information to isolate the perpetrators of violence.
“Delegates condemn in totality all forms of violence and support the peace-loving people to embrace the spirit of brotherhood and peaceful and harmonious coexistence in our communities,” it said.
“Delegates totally condemn the continuous profiling of the Fulani race by some media organisations particularly the social media and urge the press to investigate the veracity of such stories.
“Delegates frown at the continuous extra judicial killing of Fulani pastoralists by security agencies and call on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate these atrocities and ensure justice is served,” it said.
The group applauded the appointment of the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and defence ministers, while urging them to bring their wealth of experiences in tackling insecurity in the country.
It pledged support for federal government policies and programmes to address the challenges facing the livestock sector, and group appealed for inclusion in the agenda of the Tinubu administration.
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