From Taiye Joseph Ilorin
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), says worsening insecurity has forced more than 15,000 herders and their families to relocate outside the country, leaving their livelihoods in crisis.
Speaking in Ilorin, during the inauguration of the newly elected Kwara State MACBAN chairman, Alhaji Shehu Garba, the association’s national president, Alhaji Baba Nglzarma, described the situation as alarming, with Fulani pastoralists bearing the brunt of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and terrorism.
“We have lost over 40,000 cattle to rustlers, and several of our people have been killed. The Fulani pastoralists are the worst hit by the insecurity in Nigeria,” Nglzarma lamented.
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He condemned what he called the ethnic profiling of the Fulani community as criminals, urging Nigerians to be cautious about information circulated on social media. “We need a community-based approach that involves all stakeholders. This problem cannot be solved in isolation,” he added.
The MACBAN leader welcomed the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, noting that the association is exploring ways to end the age-old nomadic lifestyle, which he said is no longer sustainable due to Nigeria’s growing population.
“We are looking at having a single settlement for herders because everyone wants to enjoy life,” he said.
Nglzarma also commended Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for prioritising security, stressing that livestock remains the only economic lifeline for most Fulani families.
Special Adviser to the Kwara governor on security, Muyideen Aliyu, assured that the state government would work closely with the Fulani community to maintain peace, advising leaders to be vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The Hardon Hardodi of Kwara State, Alhaji Mahmud Ojonla, represented by Alhaji Ali Jowuro, called on those in authority to uphold fairness and justice, while the governor’s Special Assistant on Fulani Affairs, Hajiya Aishatu Yusuf, urged Fulani leaders to promote peace and harmony with other ethnic groups.
In his remarks, newly elected Kwara MACBAN chairman, Alhaji Shehu Garba, pledged to work with farmers and other stakeholders to foster peaceful coexistence, appealing to herders for cooperation in safeguarding lives and property across the state.
