Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), South-East Zone, has stated that four herdsmen have been shot dead in an attack on a settlement in Ogborji, Orumba South LGA of Anambra State.
InsightnaijaTV reports that this was made known to newsmen by MACBAN chairman, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki.
Siddiki, who was visibly pained, disclosed that many cows were stolen in the attack which happened on Saturday.
Siddiki who said over 20 Fulani herdsmen have been killed in Anambra alone from January to March, 2021, added that the latest attack on his people took place at Mohammed Idris Herders’ Settlement.
According to the MACBAN chairman, gunmen entered the camp and started shooting and in the process, four Fulanis were killed, while their corpses were taken away.
DailyTrust quoted him as saying that, “one of the escaped herders called me and told me that some unknown gunmen in a Hilux vehicle with red cap invaded Mohammed Idris Herders’ Settlement shooting sporadically and that led to the deaths of our four members and hundreds of Cows missing.”
He added that out of the four dead, police have recovered one corpse while three other corpses are yet to be accounted for.
Siddiki gave the names of the recent victims as; Hadari Umaru, Hamidu Umaru, Aliu Idris and Hassan Idris.
He also disclosed that two herders were also killed in a similar manner in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, last week, while many have been killed this year alone.
According to him, the Fulanis in zone are not attacking the host people and are not carrying AK47 because they have warned them against such.
He stated, “The Fulani people in the South-East are not violent and we are not here to undermine the business of the people of the area. So, I am surprised why my people have been killed unjustly like that.
“We have experienced a lot of challenges in the region including the death of our members, despite our quick response whenever issue of compensation arises. I am constrained to say this publicly, because I can no longer hold the pains anymore.
“My people have begin to think I have been compromised… while keeping wait over various killing of herders in the zone. They have accused me of not saying anything about their killing in the zone.
“My worries now is that time will come when they cannot listen to me again, then it would be very difficult to control and manage them. There is no issue of farmland damaged by our people that we did not pay.”
