Emmanuel Thomas I October 26, 2016
Nigeria, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has called on the people of Ekiti State to remain alert and ready to defend themselves against any invasion by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN).
The association had threatened to invade Ekiti for what it called killing of four cows by Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshal (EGEM) for violating the Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing Prohibition Act of Ekiti State 2016.
But speaking in Ekiti on Tuesday, the governor said five cattle arrested by EGEM are in Ekiti Grazing Reserve and that they will be released once the owners pay appropriate fines.
“On Saturday, October 22, 2016, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body of herdsmen in Nigeria openly threatened to wage war against the government and people of Ekiti State, lying that four cattle belonging to its member were killed by the newly inaugurated EGEM.
“Four days after this threat was issued against the government and people of Ekiti State by the Miyetti Allah, the federal government is yet to act in any manner that will disabuse the minds of Ekiti people, who believed that the federal government is in support of the threat”, he said.
According to him, the silence of the federal government has no doubt further confirmed the insinuation that there is plot to give tacit support to the herdsmen to invade some border towns and villages in Ekiti State and cause chaos in the State so as to justify the evil agenda of declaration of a state of emergency on the State.
“Nigerians should be reminded that in May, this year, Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria said openly that the reason for the killing of over 1,000 people in Benue State was the killing of over 800 cattle by Tiv youths. In other words, Miyetti Allah boldly told Nigerians that its members (herdsmen) killed over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue State because their cows were killed!
“Up till today, no one has been arrested for the massacre in Agatu in Benue State and now, Ekiti State and its people are being threatened by this same Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and the federal government has pretended as if nothing was wrong”, he said.
He explained that from the words and antecedents of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, it is clear that they have assurance beyond their personal minds from the federal government to kill Nigerians in place of their cows.
“ If not, by now, the man who signed that press statement, threatening the entire people of Ekiti State ought to have been arrested and questioned”, he said.
He warned that in the event of any invasion of Ekiti State by killer herdsmen, the federal government should be held responsible.
“The herdsmen and those urging them on should also be informed that any attack on one Ekiti person is an attack on all Ekitis and we shall not sit back and allow our people to be killed under the guise of cattle rearing”, he warned.
