Miyetti Allah asks state governors to create ministry for Fulani herdsmen

Pastoralist group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has called on state governors across the country to create a “Ministry of Nomadic Affairs” in their states.

The group made the call in a communiqué released at the end of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja and signed by National President, Abdullahi Bodejo and National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan.

The group praised Niger State Governor, Muhammed Bago, for the creation of the Ministry of Nomadic Affairs and urged his colleagues in other states to do the same.

Miyetti Allah lamented the extrajudicial killings of herdsmen by security agents and demanded investigations into the killings.

“Delegates expressed appreciation to the Governor of Niger State, Muhammed Bago, for the creation of the Ministry of Nomadic Affairs and called on other states to emulate the positive gesture.

“Delegates totally condemn the continuous profiling of the Fulani race by some media organisations, particularly the social media and urge the press to investigate the veracity of their stories before going to press or risk legal actions.

“Delegates frown upon the continuous extrajudicial killing of Fulani pastoralists by security agencies in the country and call on the National Human Rights Commission to investigate these atrocities and ensure justice is served,” the communique read in part.

Miyetti Allah disclosed that it had endorsed the establishment of the “Miyetti Allah Vigilante” security group which would “assist security agencies in curbing criminalities such as cattle rustling, kidnapping and rural banditry” while adding that it also endorsed the introduction of a dress code for all its members as a way of preserving the Fulani culture.

Meanwhile, the group appealed to President Bola Tinubu not to wage war on Niger Republic but explore the dialogue option to resolve the political impasse in the neighbouring West African nation.

Miyetti Allah warned that a war in Nigeria would have “devastating consequences in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa with negative impact on Fulani pastoralists particularly”.