SUNNEWSTIMES TEAM.
The recent provocative and unwarranted utterance of the Miyetti Allah group, that they would be setting up their own security outfits across the country is still sending dangerous signals in the minds of reasonable citizens of the South-East and South –South.
The reason is that these citizens have waited in vain for the reactions of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government on this matter to no avail.
The President General of Igbo Vanguard Group, Engr. James Uchegbuo, who reacted on this issue while speaking to with men in Umuahia reasoned that Nigerian leaders should have said something in support or against the statement to put the minds of citizens at rest.
The National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo was reported to have said that “Miyetti Allah would soon flag off its own security outfit with about 5,000 to 10,000 Vigilantes across all the states of Nigeria.
He had said that herdsmen do not need permission from any individual to occupy any territory in Nigeria; and that Fulani will rule Nigeria forever because they own the country”.
Uchegbuo, who is also a public analyst wondered why such a provocative utterance should come up and the security apparatus and the Government saw and treated it as un-serious, even when it is capable of tearing the nation apart..
“It is unfortunate that, while we are trying to organize ourselves as one Nigeria, somebody out there is pushing us to war through provocative utterances and actions capable of endangering lives and property of citizens. Because they, through their herdsmen have attacked some states without any war song or retaliation, they now claim that they can destroy the entire nation in the very eye of the people who supposed to take action, to the extent that they now want to setup their security outfit as if they have conquered the entire nation.
“I want to draw the attention of the United Nations to this, because this action to setup a security outfit by the Miyetti Allah could be an act of war, because they are not coming without arms. If the Government allow this to happen, Nigerians will see it as failure of the Government. Miyetti Allah should think of other things they can do to promote peace and unity in Nigeria and not to setup a security outfit outside their region. It is a violation of the Nigerian constitution”.
He reminded Bodejo that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN only represent the interest of semi-nomads and nomads in Nigeria as a loose partisan advocacy group centered on promoting the welfare of Fulani pastorals in Nigeria and the Nigerian constitution section 3,4,5 of the armed robbery and fire arms tribunal does not allow anybody to bear automatic fire arms and weapons of mass destruction like AK-47, which Fulani herdsmen allegedly carry about; and which is an exclusive hardware for infantry soldiers.
Uchegbuo advised that the leaders to speak with one voice against the actions of the MACBAN and herdsmen who carry arms.
“To allow Miyetti Allah and the Fulani herdsmen to bear arms without being challenged by the security personnel or agencies is both political and administrative aberration”. END
