The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma, says over 200 Fulani herdsmen have been killed in attacks in different parts of Plateau State in the last three months.
Ngelzarma who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, his said the association has lost 200 pastoralists while over 40 settlements were burnt down by members of the Plateau State Operated Rainbow Security outfit and other militias.
He said the concerns of MACBAN was in response to the call for its members to be held accountable for the recent bloodletting in the Mangu local government area of Plateau State, insisting that contrary to widespread belief, Fulani herdsmen are actually objects of attack after the last governorship election.
The association further accused the state government for being deeply involved in the attacks against its members, like in several other attacks on pastoralist settlements.
“The association has observed that since the 2023 elections, there has been an upsurge of violence against pastoralists in the state, particularly in Mangu, Barkin and Riyom local governments, partly as a result of political differences.
“While thousands of pastoralists have been displaced and left to fend for themselves with colossal damage to their economic activities and means of livelihood, the Plateau State government never extended any relief to them.
“The stigmatisation of pastoralists as not being indigenous in these areas make them legitimate targets of attack by the state operated Rainbow outfit and militias. These attacks have left the poor and vulnerable traumatised and have become target of hate.
“We reaffirmed that these pastoralists are bona fide Nigerians and indigenes of Plateau State and deserve the protection of their lives and property as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore, no amount of blackmail and intimidation will make them leave their homes,” Ngelzarma said.
