By Esindu Jacobs
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), says the members of the group are not kidnappers or armed robbers as being alleged
The group said Sunday in Awka, Anambra state that its members were clamped in different Correctional centres in the state by the police since over five years without trial
MACBAN, spoke with reporters through its Southeast leader , Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, while briefing reporters
Sidikki, lamented that many of their members were dumped inside prisons for the past five years without trial, on trump up charges of armed robbery and kidnappings.
According to him, “the leadership of MACBAN in the zone is currently sad about the way the herders are being dehumanized and label kidnappers and armed robbers in the region.
“We are here for our business, in which we are all aware that it is ranching of cows in the bushes and not for the above mentioned activities.
“So many of our people have been in the prison yards for more than five years without the government looking into their case file or trying them.
” All the hatred is caused by some disgruntled elements living with the Igbo that do not like Fulanis in the religion.
“Wherever they see a Fulani man, because of the hatred, they will report him to any nearest Police Station via a weighty allegation, whether he committed the offence or not and the Police will arrest, charge him to Court.
” Afterwards, the herder will be dumped inside the prison yards and their file kept in the Court custody without trial and that is why on behalf of MACBAN Southeast, I am appealing to the State government through the Ministry of Justice and the Prison authority in the state, to look into the matter.
“So that our people that are in the prison custody will either be executed, free or sentence according to the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, after trial.
“The association stand on its position that any fulani herder who is caught in any criminal act in the curse of discharging his legitimate business will be delth with in accordance with the laws of the association”. Sidikki said
He said MACBAN, under his watch in Southeast, would continue to support the socio-economic developments in the region.
