Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Association, the umbrella group of all Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria on Monday called on the federal government to immediately establish the Federal Ministry of Nomadic Affairs with the task of broadening educational opportunities and addressing herders’ challenges across the country.
The pro-Fulani group also demanded the immediate designation, gazetting and development of all the 415 grazing reserves across the country.
The group also criticised Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State over his unyielding disposition on the implementation of the anti-grazing law.
Miyetti Allah spoke in a communique issued Monday which was jointly signed by its National President, Abdullahi Bodejo, and its National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan after the end of the prolonged National Executive Meeting of the body with its State Chairmen which was held in Abuja.
According to Miyetti Allah: “The meeting called for the immediate designation, gazetting and development of all the 415 grazing reserves across the states of the Federation as the only first strategic step in addressing the challenges confronting Fulani herders in Nigeria.
“This will include building of earth dams and solar boreholes. Building of veterinary clinics. Development of dairy (milk) collection centres.”
The group also demanded that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, should investigate the killing of Fulani herdsmen in Taraba State and bring the culprits to book.
“The meeting dismissed the consistent claims of farmers-herders conflicts as a major setback of instability and insecurity in Nigeria.
“But rather the conflicts are exacerbated by activities of States sponsored vigilantes and tribal hordes who wilfully continue to carry out extra-judicial killings of Fulani pastoralists.
“The leadership of the association also condemned the continuous profiling of Fulani pastoralists by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, through the anti-grazing law.
“It said the Governor had been using the law to officially confiscate and auction cattle belonging to Fulanis in Benue-Nasarawa and Benue-Taraba border communities.”
