Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria's Benue leader blasts Gowon for asking police to question them

MIYETTI Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria's (Macban) Benue State coordinator Alhaji Garus Gololo has attacked former head of state General Yakubu Gowon for calling on the police to arrest his members saying they have not committed any offence.

Last week in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, General Gowon condemned the killings in the Middle Belt, demanding that Macban leaders be invited for questioning. In response to the call, Alhaji Gololo described General Gowon's request as uncalled for and unbefitting of an elder statesman.

He added that General  Gowon was only speaking for the people of the Middle Belt, adding that the killings were not limited to the region. Furthermore, Alhaji Gololo said it was wrong for General Gowon to have called for the arrest of Macban leaders because they had not done anything criminal to warrant being invited by the police for questioning.

Alhaji Gololo added: “I don’t understand what Gowon meant because it is only criminals that the police can invite. If that is the case, who should be questioned in Zamfara, Borno, Rivers and Lagos where there have also been killings?

“Just yesterday, four people were killed in Zamfara, who should the police invite? to me, it is very unfortunate for a former head of state to have made such inciting comments. What about the people who blocked roads in Jos and killed people, who has questioned them? and what about those people who were burnt to ashes and removed from vehicles in the Middle Belt, who has questioned those that killed them?"

He pointed out that Fulani people were burnt in vehicles at the Daudu area in Benue State, asking who will be questioned about this. According to the Macban leader, there is no basis for singling out the members of his organisation for questioning.

“As far as I’m concerned, we are cattle breeders, we are peace lovers, we support peace and we will continue to preach peace. Honestly, I’m not happy with his comments and I’m disappointed.

“No Miyetti Allah member would honour any invitation from the police in respect of any killings.  They would call you just because you are leading an organisation and something happened in any state,  is that how things are done?" Alhaji Gololo added.

Macban has been accused of being behind most of the killings across Nigeria's Middle belt that has seen heavily-armed Fulani cattle herdsmen attack rural farming communities. Its leaders have maintained, however, that their members have been attacked and killed too.

“We are a registered organisation and we don’t have any dealing with the police as far as I’m concerned because we have a very robust and cordial relationship with them. The police cannot invite us because of a request made by someone because we’re friends with the police,” Alhaji Gololo added.