Miyetti Allah advocates joint  traditional security committee to curb kidnapping, other crimes in Benue 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Benue State chapter, has appealed to traditional rulers in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas to immediately liaise with the state government and other critical stakeholders to establish a joint traditional security committee.

Chairman of the association in the state , Ardo Mohammed Risku  who made the appeal at a press conference in Makurdi at the weekend said that the  committee would  be able to expose the criminal elements in zone c area of the state.

He suggested that the committee should accommodate  conventional security agencies, traditional rulers and Miyetti members, adding that when constituted, would assist the conventional security personnel curb the ongoing skirmishes in the Benue South Senatorial District. 

He lamented that Fulani herders in Idoma kingdom have suffered so much loss in the  hands of their host communities resulting in the death of their members, loss of cows and burning down of their shelters due to lack of understanding and cooperation amongst stakeholders.

The chairman of Miyietti Allah who is also the Ardo in zone c, commended governor Hyacinth Alia for his peace effort, saying that Fulani herders have enjoyed relative peace under his administration. 

“In the beginning of this year, there was a peace agreement signed between Agatu local government council chairman, Agatu stakeholders and Fulanis where it was agreed that we should all live together as one.

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“Similar peace agreement was signed between the people of Apa local government area, some traditional rulers from Adoka community in Otukpo local government area, where peace committees were set up and since then,  relative peace between Fulanis and the farmers are being witnessed.

“What is happening now in zone c for the past few days where Fulanis are being accused of kidnapping is worrisome.  Therefore, I am begging the traditional rulers of Otukpo and that of Ohimini local government areas to immediately constitute a joint traditional security committee so that, wherever there is a kidnapping syndicate anywhere, we will be able to trace and arrest them.

“We are worried that Fulanis are not getting the needed support from our host communities in zone c to enable us to fight crime. Some of our host communities are chasing us away from their areas after we  committed no offence.

“Only recently, youth  in Otukpo Icho community in Otukpo local government area, demanded that all Fulanis should vacate their community. I view such action as uncalled for and unnecessary, hence we are one Nigeria and I have no capacity to ask any individual to leave a particular place”, Risku said.

He appealed to the Benue State government to give listening ears to the plights of Fulani herders in the state, saying that just this month of April, no fewer than 8 herders have been killed, with five cows killed and eight others badly injured.

The Ardo however accused the chairman of Otukpo local government area of frustrating the herders and farmers peace move in his area, saying that the chairman has vehemently refused to see him or answer calls.

But the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Maxwell Ogiri dismissed the allegation, saying that it was not true that he is frustrating Fulani herders and farmers peace agreement in his domain.

Ogiri however, accused the chairman of Miyetti Allah of being the brain behind all the kidnapping and other criminality in zone c.

“Even though I do not know the personality you are talking about,  I have never met with him. Am an open leader that everybody has access to. I don’t move with security or rectinue of aides that can block people from accessing  me.

“So, whatever he said that they made an attempt to meet with me wasn’t true. But however, there is one I thought he is the leader of Fulani in zone whom they called Ardo, I have his number and I have made attempts to called him on occasions and I couldn’t  get him until they told me he resides not in Otukpo Local Government but somewhere in Ohimini.

“Now, if we must put things in the right perspective, a lot of people including Fulanis that have become victims of these skirmishes, have accused Ardo of being the brain behind the issues of insecurity in Otukpo Local Government Area and Idoma in general. A lot of hands point towards him.

“However, I have directed the DSS as at that time that they should create an opportunity between him and I to see how we can talk. Let us see what are their grievances and for taking arms against communities that have given them the opportunity to graze their cows and have a good livelihood.

“They should know that this state is still under the ban on open grazing, the law is still in force and if you want to do anything otherwise against the law, it should be an understanding between the community and probably the government. And am not sure that anything  of such has ever happened between the community and the government that there is a relaxation of that law.

“So, I don’t know where he is coming from, because as a leader of Fulanis, all the attacks that have been happening in recent times, kidnappings, armed robberies have the faces of Fulanis. I Am ashamed that he is out to even  try to defend them. 

“Am ashamed that he can even publicly defend his people that they are the face of the evils that are against society.  I have quarrelled with a lot of people who believe that they should do negotiation or understanding with Fulani herdsmen and I have told them rightly that you cannot discuss illegality.

” All we need to happen in Idoma land and also in Benue State at large, is the enforcement of the law against open grazing. With that, we can have the peace that is needed in the land”, Ogiri said