Gololo, a leader of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders in Benue state said the attack on some communities in the state, which led to the killings of innocent Nigerians, was in retaliation for alleged stealing of their cows.
Gololo told BBC News Pidgin that trouble started when some people attacked Fulani herdsmen who were relocating with their cows from Benue state.
He said as they were relocating over 1000 of their cows were stolen at Nengere. “As we were relocating to Taraba through Nasarawa state, thieves came to steal 1000 cows from us at the border town of Nengere, so we fought them back,” Gololo stated.
Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in a statement on Friday, January 5, by the national publicity secretary of the association, Alhaji Yusuf Ardo, the association said the killings are unfortunate and condemnable.
The group labeled the perpetrators as irresponsible elements.
Ardo described Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as an association that upholds peace, love, unity and harmony in the country.
He said: “We are peace loving people, we believe in love for one another. Any Fulani pastoralist that doesn’t believe in peace is not part of us.”
Ardo urged security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the incident to book. He further called on herdsmen living in Benue and other parts of the country to remain calm and be law abiding.
The association urged the government to look into the crises in Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states with a view to having a lasting solution to issues arising from anti-grazing laws.
President Muhammadu Buhari had commiserated with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state over the reported killings, injury of several persons and wanton destruction of property in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state in the New Year.
The president disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, January 3, by his senior special assistant, Garba Shehu.
Buhari while expressing immense sadness at the “wicked and callous” attacks on even innocent children, assured the governor and people of the state that relevant security agencies have been directed to do everything possible to arrest those behind the regrettable incidents and avert further attacks.
Buhari has said that his government would not allow people who take up arms against the defenceless in the society to go unpunished.
