Miyetti Allah reveal why cattle colonies is not practicable in southeast
- The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says there is no need to set up cattle colonies in the South East
- The Anambra state chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Sadiq Gidado, says establishment is not necessary because members of the association and residents coexist peacefully
- Gidado expressed regret over the incessant clashes in some parts of the country
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says there is no need to set up cattle colonies in the South East geopolitical zone.
Alhaji Sadiq Gidado, the Chairman of MACBAN in Anambra, said this on Friday at a news conference in Awka.
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He said that the establishment of cattle colonies in the area was not necessary because of the harmonious relationship existing between members of the association and the residents.
He, however, underscored the need to strengthen the mutual understanding and synergy between MACBAN and the people in the zone.
Gidado bemoaned the incessant farmer-herdsmen clashes in some parts of the country, saying that the two parties were coexisting peacefully in the South East zone.
“Cattle breeding in Anambra is different from what obtains in other states; here in Anambra; we are working in synergy with the security operatives, the indigenes and the state government through the Cattle Menace Control Committee.
“To me, anti-open grazing bill, cattle colonies and ranches are just political creations; these concepts are created by politicians to bring disharmony between farmers and herdsmen.
“In the South-East, the proposed cattle colonies cannot work; you cannot just take somebody’s land and give to another person to conduct his own business; it is not right.
“Here in the zone, it is virtually impossible to operate cattle colonies, as there is harmonious relationship existing between the herdsmen and the farmers.
“The cattle colonies they are talking about are already existing in the North,” he said.
Gidado, who is a member of the Cattle Menace Control Committee, commended the governors of the South-East states for being proactive by setting up the committee which had ensured peace.
He blamed some frictions recorded in the region on migrant cattle breeders, who were not members of MACBAN in the zone, saying that the association had put in place some measures to forestall future incidents.
“We thank the governors of the South-East states, especially the Anambra and Enugu state governors, who constituted these committees that are coordinating our activities.
“The regulation is that you only graze where there are no farms. If you destroy farmlands intentionally or unintentionally, you must be punished for what you have done and be made to pay for what you have destroyed.
“And if the people in the communities kill a Fulani man or his cow, you pay damages accordingly; we have a good structure that enables the effective management of our members,” Gidado said.
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In a previous report by Legit.ng, Kogi government says the establishment of cattle colonies in the state will check activities of criminals and mayhem arising from herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, besides restricting movement of the cattle herdsmen.
Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, director-general, Kogi information services and grassroots sensitisation, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday, January 26.
Abdulkarim said the establishment of cattle colonies would enhance security of lives and property across the country.
Victims of Herdsmen killing buried in Benue State on Legit.ng TV.
Source: Legit.ng
