From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
A National coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Garus Gololo, has promised that Fulani herdsmen in Benue State would remain law-abiding throughout their stay in the state this dry season.
Gololo gave the assurance, on Monday, in a statement made available to Daily Sun. He explained that MACBAN was working round the clock to forestall the usual incessant crisis between Benue farmers and Fulani herders in the state.
While also appealing to all Fulani herdsmen in the state to remain calm and law abiding, the MACBAN Coordinator said that the appeal became necessary to nip any crisis between herdsmen and Benue people in the bud following recent allegations that some vigilante members were harassing the herders in their areas.
“We as an association have appealed to our members to remain calm, law abiding and never resort to self help as we have confidence in Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration to do its best in identifying the culprits and bringing them to justice.”
The MACBAN coordinator wondered why anyone would want to cause mayhem at a time when the state government was doing everything to maintain peace among farmers and herders in the state, positing that it was absolutely unnecessary for suspicious characters in the name of vigilante to cause disaffection among the two tribes who are now living together in peace.
Similarly, the Sole Administrator of Agatu Local Government Area, Hon. Mike Inalegwu has disclosed that over 50,000 cows have arrived Agatu communities to graze.
The Agatu council boss, who noted that both the herders and Agatu people were living in peace, commended Governor Samuel Ortom and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Al-Makura for ensuring the resolution of the crisis between Agatu and Fulani herders which had culminated in a joint agreement to allow cattle herders in Agatu communities after the harvest season.