By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—CATTLE breeders in the South East geo-political zone alleged yesterday that some people posing as herdsmen in the area were hoodlums.

The cattle breeders, under the auspices of Miyetti Allah Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, said during a meeting at Amansea near Awka that they would henceforth drive the suspected hoodlums out of the zone to redeem their image.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, who expressed worry over the activities of the hoodlums, pleaded with their host communities in the zone not to eject them, adding that it was some of those parading themselves as herdsmen that were giving cattle breeders a bad image.

Siddiki said: “We wish to state that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria is unarguably the recognized organization that superintends over the activities of herdsmen across Nigeria.

“As South East Zone members of this group, we wholly submit to the injunctions of the national body. We represent the Fulani stock of herdsmen who are genuinely engaged in the business of shepherding cattle across the country, particularly here in South East Nigeria. By this, we mean that every herdsman of ours who steps into the South East immediately becomes our concern.

“We seek to make herdsmen compliant with our underlying codes and practices for plying the trade across the zone.  This is the utmost responsibility we strive to attain and sustain in the South East.

“We counsel our members in the South East to quickly report any unpleasant encounters to our leadership for onward notification of the relevant authority for prompt action. They are advised not to resort to self help or seek any form of revenge.

“We hereby enjoin our members co-opted into the security subcommittees in the Local Governments in Enugu State to show maximum commitment to their assignments.

“While we recognize the possibility of itinerant criminals parading themselves as herdsmen to unleash havoc on people and communities, we plead that those who embark on such criminal acts are properly designated as criminals and be so treated.

“Where disposed, MACBAN will not hesitate to assist legitimate security agencies in tracking down such societal irritants.”

“We plead that the generality of our herdsmen who are in lawful pursuit of their livelihood be spared the criminalization that they suffer in the hands of the public for the wrongs of these dregs of society.

“Given the challenges of the increasing menace of these criminals who disguise as herdsmen and given our in-depth knowledge of the fields and the jungles, we plead that the governments of the South East give us logistic support in terms of rugged off road vehicles and communication gargets to facilitate effective check against camp infiltration.”

Siddiki commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for the cordial relationship existing between cattle breeders and the various communities in the state, as well as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his positive response to the security challenges in the state.