Enugu – Following several cases of violent crimes often linked to Fulani herdsmen in the South East, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has banned cattle grazers from coming to the region without their families.
The ban was announced after a meeting of the leadership of MACBAN Northern leaders and Livestock and Perishable Goods Market traders in Enugu on Saturday.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, the South East Chairman of MACBAN, said henceforth, any grazer whose family was not in the South-East would be asked to leave.
Siddiki, who briefed journalists with the Sarkin Hausawa, Enugu State, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf Sambo, said “in the North, grazers bring their families to the area where they are grazing.
He said the meeting also resolved to shut down their 14 livestock and perishable goods markets in the State.
Siddiki said the decision was to enable them to embark on “sensitization tour of all livestock and perishable goods markets and every Fulani settlement in Enugu State between Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15, 2019”.
He explained that “during the sensitization exercise all livestock and perishable goods market will be closed down, either in cattle markets, Fulani settlements, or wherever they exist throughout Enugu State,” adding that they have constituted a 14-man committee for the programme for the purposes of identifying all their members and weed out infiltrators.
Siddiki said they regretted the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Reverend Father Paul Offu of St. James The Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area and enjoined his family and the people of the state in mourning with fortitude.
He disclosed their commitment towards the security of the state, saying, “in appreciation of the good gesture, which Enugu State has extended to us, we are prepared to join hands with the police, the military and other security agencies in ensuring maximum security in our neighbourhood.”
According to the MACBAN leader, the Northern leaders, therefore, expressed their “profound appreciation to Enugu State Government for the peace that prevails in the state which had helped them in their business” as well as the peaceful co-existence they had enjoyed over the years.