The Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has lamented that property owners in Anambra State no longer rent their houses to it’s members.
The South-East leader of association, Gidado Siddiki, disclosed this to journalists after attending Governor Charles Soludo’s one-year Anniversary in office on Saturday.
The MACBAN leader cited Anaku, Umueje, Omor, Igbakwu, Omasi, Umumbo, Umuerum and Ifite-Ogwari all in Ayamelum Local Government Areas of the state as places where it’s members have been denied accommodation.
While appealing to the governor to intervene in the discrimination against his members, the MACBAN leader said that the pastoralists are peace-loving people.
Mr Siddiki stressed that the association has a cordial relationship with the indigenes in spite of “some cases of misunderstanding”.
“Our interest in the areas was purely economic. No herder was interested in contesting the ownership of land with members of their host communities across the state.
“We commended the police and DSS for their prompt responses whenever there is a conflict between our members and our host communities in the state.”
He, however, said much still needed to be done to ensure that law-abiding citizens, including herders, were free to carry out their businesses without hindrances in the state.
“We are ready to support our host communities in any capacity they want us to, in order to make life meaningful for everyone and to sustain the already peaceful co-existence in the areas,” Mr Siddiki added.
