The Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the South East, has called for peace among the warring groups in the north, following the massacre in Plateau state, where many people have lost their lives.
The South East Chairman of the body, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, in a statement on Saturday in Awka, Anambra state, made available to the Nation, said killing one another would only take the country to destruction.
He claimed that over 500 of their members who do their businesses in the South East, had lost their lives since 2016 on a business trip to the north,adding that the people should sheath their swords and embrace peace
Siddiki said he believed that the crisis in the north could be as a result of lack of proper coordination, adding that members of the group in the South East were not facing such problems because there was proper coordination.
The statement reads, ” I wish to dispel the notion that the present crisis in Plateau is exclusively caused by Fulani herdsmen and targeted at the Christian population alone”
” Evidences abound that the Berom militia mounted road blocks at vintage locations and molested whoever they counted an enemy, Christian or Muslim”
“The Muslim community has lost so much in the conflagrations. Statistics show that from 2016 till date, our business men here in the South East have lost more than 500 persons in the Plateau, Benue and Taraba crises on their way either to the North to South East”
“I therefore wish to use this medium to call on the government and the leaders of the conflicting parties in the North Central States to thrive to provide harmonious environments for lasting peace in their domains, as violence of any shade serves nobody any good”
“I advocate a sincere synergy between the contending tribes, State Governments, Security Operatives in the region towards containing the awry situation”
” Whosoever is found guilty of contravening the law should be made to face the consequent wrath, irrespective of their leanings, religious or tribal”
” It is only by so doing, will the government be seen to be responsive to its duty of providing security for the citizens of Nigeria”
“I implore the media houses to shelve undue bias in their reportage, recognizing the right of every Nigerian, irrespective of the degree of their exposure to literacy, to be shielded from malicious damage in either the electronic or print media”
” Arm chair journalists should please desist from sensational reportage aimed at poor presentation of any section of the country”
“As optimists, we believe that the troubles we face today would soon be history and the normalcy that ensured communality amongst Nigerians would resume its course”Siddiki said