The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to issue a directive to security agencies to ensure effective protection for pastoralist communities across the country.
Alhaji Bello Gotomo, the National Secretary-General of MACBAN, made the appeal in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. He highlighted the growing concerns among pastoralists regarding their safety and wellbeing, urging the government to take decisive action to protect these communities.
Gotomo specifically appealed to the Federal Government to end any discriminatory practices against pastoralists, asserting that they have been subject to unwarranted ethnic profiling, stigmatisation, and scapegoating. He stressed the importance of ensuring justice, accountability, and protection for all Nigerian citizens, regardless of their ethnic background.
In addition, Gotomo decried the alleged unlawful arrest and mistreatment of pastoralists in Kogi State, particularly at Opere Market in Kabba Local Government Area. He called for the intervention of the Federal Government, the National Human Rights Commission, and the international community to address these issues.
"The Nigerian Government must ensure accountability, justice, and protection for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity," Gotomo urged, as he continued to emphasize the need for effective measures from the office of the National Security Adviser to tackle the plight of pastoralists across the nation.
