The Coalition of Pastoralists Association of Nigeria, a group of herders in Nigeria, has expressed disappointment in the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), for neglecting their plights since he assumed office. The group believes that President Buhari never had any engagement with them, according to the Vice President of the Tabital Pulaaku International in Nigeria, Auwal Gonga.
Gonga addressed journalists in Abuja alongside the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Ngelzarma, and President General of Fulbe Global Development and Right Initiatives, Salim Umar. Gonga stated that despite having members who are former ministers and governors, the President still failed to engage stakeholders among the herders.
He went on to urge the incoming administration to create a ministry of livestock and do better in unifying livestock farmers and herders. He attributed the current administration’s neglect of the herders to government failures in addressing fundamental issues affecting the group.
Meanwhile, Umar denied accusations that the herders were responsible for the killings in Plateau, Oyo, Gombe, and Benue, among other states. He stated that the group also suffered from the same crisis and that security agencies should arrest and prosecute culprits involved in the heinous crime.
Finally, Umar made a plea to state governments to note that the activities of vigilantes had only resulted in more reprisals from bandits in the past. He urged security agencies to provide more protection to innocent citizens who were continuously being harassed by the bandits, adding that they believed the security agencies had the capacity to curtail the dastardly acts of cowardice perpetrated by these bandits.
