THE army’s Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in Plateau State has disagreed with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) over the number of cattle alleged to have been stolen by natives in Bassa Local Government Area, saying the actual figure is far below the number quoted by the association.
MACBAN, in a statement by its state chairman, Mallam Mohammad Nura, had claimed that Irigwe militia youths bearing sophisticated weapons had attacked Fulani cattle rearers around Gidan Ado village in the Ganawuri district of Riyom Local Government Area.
The attackers, it alleged, beat a boy to a coma and stole about 150 cows belonging to the Fulani herders.
It claimed that some of the cows were found dead around Mai Yanga village while another set of the cattle, about 200 in number, were rustled in Dangwal village in Ganawuri of Riyom.
But the media officer of the STF, otherwise called “Operation Safe Haven,” Major Adam Umar, said the command was only aware that 25 cattle were declared missing, 20 of which had been recovered and the remaining five found dead.
Mallam Nura insisted that 350 cows were rustled and the association had so far recovered 100 out of the first batch that were rustled and a few others found dead in the bush.
He debunked the claim in some quarters that the association is playing politics with the issue, saying that the STF might not be aware of the total number of cattle rustled.
“But I can tell you that over 300 cows were missing. We are not playing politics with this. It is our livelihood,” Nura said.
Apparently reacting to the allegation, the Irigwe Development Association (IDA) has, on behalf of the Irigwe community, alerted security agents to alleged plan by herdsmen to attack the community.
In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Ive Gulu, the association described the claim by MACBAN that more than 150 cattle were stolen by Irigwe youths as a ploy to find a reason to carry out its plan to attack the community again.
“We would like to state here that MACBAN has become so predictable in its operations. As such, we view statements like this as part of a sinister plan to
launch attacks on our innocent communities. We, therefore, urge for vigilance from all and sundry, especially security operatives, who are saddled with the duty of protecting lives and property.
“It is evident that anytime they want to launch an attack on innocent communities, MACBAN, the umbrella body of the Fulani, comes out with releases of allegation against the community such as this or make media appearances to justify their killings,” IDA said.
The statement added that the state police command had confirmed that last Sunday, Irigwe community of Kimakpa had to bury one of their own who was killed in a night attack allegedly by “same ravaging” herdsmen.
“As we are still mourning the recent killings in the community, MACBAN has come out with this frivolous accusation. This is most unfortunate,” it said.
The statement added that the rustling of the livestock was said to have taken place in Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area.
“Why will an Irigwe man go all the way into its neighbour’s territory to rustle cattle? We see this accusation as a calculated attempt to set us on war path with our peaceful neighbours of many years. The attempt has failed.
“In view of all these, we urge security agencies to be on serious guard and not to be swayed by this calculated distraction aimed at shifting their attention from protecting the people, and unravelling the killers of Irigwe people in the recent and previous attacks which claimed more than seventy lives and destroyed property of
inestimable value.
“If indeed, Fulani cattle have been rustled or killed, we urge the owners to look elsewhere for the perpetrators and leave Irigwe people to mourn our dead from the recent attack and similar ones we are yet to recover from.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Irigwe man is not known to rustle cattle as it is never in our character. Even the Fulani that have resided amongst us can attest to this fact.
“We want all well-meaning individuals, government agencies and security agencies to be on the alert to avert the actions that we consider this statement as prelude to,” the IDA said.
