Miyetti Allah Reacts As Ortom Asks Buhari To Declare Fulani Herdsmen As Terrorist

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has lambasted Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to declare Fulani herdsmen as a terrorist organization.

On Thursday, Governor Ortom had reiterated his call to President Buhari to move a step further and declare all the Fulani socio-cultural organizations terrorists.

The governor said declaring bandits as terrorists would go a long way to contain the atrocities of the criminals and give citizens opportunities to go about their legitimate businesses unmolested.

He, however, called on President Buhari to be bold enough to also declare Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) as terrorist organisations.

Miyetti Allah Slams Ortom

Reacting in a statement on Friday, MACBAN national secretary, Baba Ngelzarma described Ortom’s request as “unpatriotic”, saying that the governor’s hatred for the Fulani “was not in doubt”, adding that “he has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is an unreliable leader”.

Ngelzarma said the association had contributed to peacebuilding in Benue, adding that MACBAN has spared no efforts in helping the people of the state to live in peace with the pastoralists.

He said, “We are not at all surprised at the recent call by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State for the proscription of our association (MACBAN) going by his antecedents, whose stock in trade is fanning the embers of hatred between peaceful Nigerians that have been living in peace for many centuries.

“We, therefore, call on the federal government to ignore this unpatriotic call by a wayward governor who is hell-bent on putting this country into unnecessary crisis.

“MACBAN is not and will never be a terrorist organisation. We are fully registered with the regulatory agencies with clear vision and mission to foster peaceful coexistence to our teeming members as well as serving humanity positively.”

Ngelzarma also advised Ortom to “concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Benue”, instead of “chasing phantom shadows”.

KanyiDaily recalls that last month, Governor Ortom had also called on President  Buhari to add Miyetti Allah, MACBAN, and FUNAM to the list of terrorists because they have many bandits as members.