Miyetti Allah demands nomadic ministry, 415 grazing reserves development

Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Association is demanding the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Nomadic Affairs from the Federal Government to address herders’ challenges.

The body also called for the development of all 415 grazing reserves across the country, just as it criticised Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State over his unbending position on the anti-grazing law.

Miyetti Allah stated this in a communique issued on Monday, which was jointly signed by its National President, Abdullahi Bodejo, and its National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan.

The communique was released at the end of the National Executive Meeting with state chairmen of the association held in Abuja.

It read, “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 and development of dairy (milk) collection centres.”

The group asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, to investigate the killing of Fulani herdsmen in Taraba State and bring the culprits to book.

It stated, “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.”