Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi has advised the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a ministry of herdsmen affairs to address the cattle breeders’ grievances.
He stated this while speaking on Wednesday at the ‘Pastoralists and Fulbe Security Conference’ in Abuja.
The event was jointly organised by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and northern consensus movement (NCM).
Sheikh Gumi stated that if the government can create a ministry of Niger Delta Affairs after militants launched attacks on oil installations and communities, it should do same for the herdsmen.
In his words, “Government should focus more attention on these people because they always say that they are aggrieved.
“What I expect from the government is nothing less than what it did, when the Niger Delta youths were vandalising the economy.
“These people are also disturbing the Nigerian agriculture which is the backbone of national economy.
“I think the government needs to be more proactive. They need attention. The least they need is the ministry of nomadic affairs that will look into their affairs.”
In his contribution, the National President of MACBAN, Husseini Bosso, said herdsmen are also victims of kidnappings and armed banditry ravaging communities in the country.
“What is baffling is that crimes perpetuated against pastoralists have no traction in the media. Our members have been the highest victims of criminality,” he said.
“MACBAN chairmen in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa states and five other local government chairmen, including Gwagwalada area council, were all recently abducted and killed.
“This buttresses the fact that we are not spared from the atrocities of the kidnappings and banditry in our communities.”
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