The Leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association has called for the establishment of Federal Ministry of Nomadic Affairs to address pastoralist challenges.
The association made the call in a communique issued at the end of its expanded national executive meeting of state chairmen of the Fulani association in Abuja on Monday, cosigned by the National Chairman Alh. Abdulahi Bodejo and the National Secretary Engr. Saleh Alhassa.
The association expressed its disapproval over the continuous profiling of its members by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom
The leadership of the Fulani Herdsmen association called for the development of all its 415 grazing reserves across the states as well as the establishment of Federal Ministry of Nomadic Affairs to address pastoralists’ challenges
The Communique stated in part: “The Leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association at her expanded National Executive Council Meeting to X-ray the Challenges confronting the Fulani Pastoralists in Nigeria. after extensive and exhaustive deliberations resolved as follows:
“The meeting called for the immediate Designation, Gazzeting and Development of all the 415 grazing reserves across the states of the Federation as the only first strategic step in addressing the challenges confronting Fulani Herders in Nigeria. This will include building of earth dams and solar boreholes, Building of veterinary clinics. Development of Diary (milk) collection centres.
“The meeting condemned the continuous profiling of Fulani Pastoralists by the beleaguered Governor of Benue Samuel Ortom through his satanic anti-grazing law that he has been using to officially confiscate and auction millions of cattle belonging to Fulanis in Benue- Nasarawa and Benue- Taraba border communities. Consequently, we are calling on the security agencies to closely monitor the criminal behavior of the Benue state governor because his apparent metal instability is responsible for continuous conflicts in the Benue valley.
“The meeting called on the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Nomadic Affairs whose mandate is to broaden educational opportunities and address pastoralist challenges.
The communique further read, “The meeting dismissed the consistent claims of farmers-herders conflicts as a major setback of instability and insecurity in Nigeria. but rather the conflicts are exacerbated by activities of states-sponsored vigilantes and tribal hordes who willfully continue to carry out extra-judicial killings of Fulani Pastoralists.
“The meeting observed the need for overhauling of Nigeria Security and Justice Systems to address cases of injustices and access to justice by pastoralists as many of our youths are languishing in detention centers across the country.”
The Association commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to livestock development, enhancing the security and general welfare of pastoralists while appealing for the creation of a full-fledged ministry for livestock development to ensure implementation of the National Livestock Transformation plan.
