By Salisu Sani-Idris
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has urged the Federal Government to investigate the alleged killing of 30 pastoralists at Rukubi Community in Doma Local Government of Nasarawa State.
The National Public Relations Officer of MACBAN, Malam Muhammad Nura, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Nura also emphasised the need for the Federal Government put a stop to such an incident as a matter of urgency and ensure adequate compensation to be paid to the relatives of the victims as a matter of serious concern.
” The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) condemns the Barbaric killing of 30 pastoralists with unspecified number of livestock by a purported bombing raid from unknown source on Jan. 21, in Rukubi Community, Ikye Development Area, Doma Local Government Nasarawa State.
” Those allegedly killed had gone to Makurdi, Benue State to retrieve about 1,250 of their cows impounded by the Benue Livestock guards after paying a fine of about N29 million for violating the anti-open grazing law of Benue State.
” After paying, the pastoralist hired vehicles from Makurdi to convey back their seized livestock to Rukubi, and it was in the process of offloading their livestock that an attack
was conducted which killed 30 pastoralist, eight Hausa Butchers from Benue who have escorted the vehicles to upload the cows and four others are now on admission in Lafia Hospital.
” The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Commissioner of Police,
the Emirs of Lafia and Doma, the Doma LG Chairman and the State Chairman
MACBAN were all in attendance during the burial of the deceased in Rukubi
Community today.”
Nura said that such incident was happening for the third time in recent times.
” MACBAN describes the action as not only condemnable but a war crime under the Geneva convention that prohibits the wanton killing of Livestock.
” We call on the Authorities to not only investigate this terror but to also punish the culprits and to be sure that incident like this will not happen again.
” Information available to us shows that the perpetrators must have been
informed about the release of the Livestock from Benue Livestock Guards
Custody to impose a double jeopardy on pastoralists lives and their assets.
” We wonder how animals easily become culprits to deserve such barbaric action. MACBAN demands an unreserved apology to the families of the victims and to Nigerians in General for this reckless and reprehensible act of barbarism.”
