Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria threatens to sue Anglican bishops for calling herdsmen terrorists

FULANI herdsmen body the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) has threatened to institute legal action against the Anglican Church after its bishops labelled it a terrorist organisation.

 

Earlier this year, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed herdsmen as terrorists. In a reaction to the call, Macban asked the Anglican bishops to withdraw their remarks, saying that said herdsmen have the right to graze anywhere across the country.

 

Over recent years, Nigeria has been plagued by the menace of heavily-armed herdsmen attacking rural farming communities, slaughtering hundreds as they unleash mayhem. Despite the international outrage over the matter, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been loath to clampdown on the herdsmen, who appear to be well funded and furnished with AK47 assault rifles.

 

In May this year, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion held its 2018 synod at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, at Amawbia in Anambra State. After the synod, speaking on behalf of the Christian clergymen, the Bishop of Awka Diocese Dr Alex Ibezim, condemned the way the Buhari–led federal government is handling the herdsmen menace, wondering why they were being handled with kid’s gloves.

 

According to the synod, between 2014 and 2018, herdsmen had killed over 1,229 people across the country with Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina, the worst hit states. The synod wondered what President Buhari's silence on the issue could mean, stressing that Nigerians are tired of speeches and condolence messages to victims.

 

However, Alhaji Garus Gololo, Macban's national coordinator, said: “We are not happy with this comment coming from the bishops who are spiritual heads of the Anglican Church and we want them to withdraw it. We are not criminals, the president has nothing to do with us, we are not terrorists and we are peaceful citizens.

 

“We have the right to graze anywhere in the world, not even in Nigeria because that is the business we came for. So, if the bishops ask the president to declare herdsmen as criminals, so every man they see rearing cow will be killed.

 

"It is very wrong. We are not happy with this comment and if they make comments as such next time, we will challenge it in the court.”

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