We are now seen as black sheeps in Nigeria — MACBAN laments

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has expressed regrets over the labeling of herders as criminals due to what it described as the misconduct of a few.

The group while acknowledging the roles some of its members might have played in aiding criminality and unwholesome behavior across the country, said its not enough justification to paint the whole Fulani community as black.


It claimed most of the atrocities being attributed to its members were committed by bad elements from Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Bauchi and Katsina States.

MACBAN Chairman in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini, accused visitors from the far North and their children of causing a problem in the state.

"Most of the kidnappers in the state were from Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Bauchi and Kasina states among others who have caused security problems in their respective states,” Hussain said at a meeting of MACBAN in Lafia, according to Vanguard.



He called on every Fulani family to expose criminals among them to show the world that they were good and peaceful people. “Majority of the kid*napped victims are Fulani people because our people are living in the bush and are vulnerable to the activities of criminals.”

The MACBAN Chairman said Nasarawa State belongs to them, hence the need for all leaders of the social-cultural group to restrategise and expose bad elements among them for prosecution.


“How can we allow a few strangers from other states to tarnish our image? Look at what happened in Udege – Loko Road where these strangers, our children together with some indigenous tribe of the area, whisk away 30 people to an unknown destination?”

“Let’s us restrategize, if your son, brother or anyone you know is among these bad eggs, bring them out or the law will take its course on you, the leaders.”



 Hussaini listed illiteracy and hard drugs as the major factors pushing people into crime, hence the need for security agents to rise to their responsibility of reducing crime.