The Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has come out to say that Fulanis are victims of bandits as well.

Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga, Chairman of the Miyyati Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria recently revealed this, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, conflicts in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government area of Kaduna State have so far led to the killing of 16 persons, mostly women and children, while over 300 houses belonging to the Fulani were reportedly burnt to ashes in different villages of the Chiefdom.

He added that Fulanis have been constantly faced with the troubles of the bandits as they constantly rustle their cows, kidnapped pastoralists and kill those who refuse to pay ransom.

His words, “As is characteristic of the misinformed youths who are indoctrinated to hate the Fulani pastoralists, attack on cattle rearers followed the unfortunate event. While security agencies moved swiftly to contain the violence around Gora Gan and adjoining villages, there was the mobilization of Atyap youths by some ethnic chauvinists among the Atyap ethnic community and other non-peace loving organizations that resulted in attacks on Fulani settlements throughout the Chiefdom.”

“In addition to the burning of settlements, an unconfirmed number of Fulani pastoralists were also killed. As a consequence, the surviving victims of the arson are now internally displaced and scattered around in neighbouring Local Governments of Kaura, Kauru, Lere, Jema’a and Kachia.”