The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has distanced itself from Saturday’s attack on the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.
The herders’ group said it condemned the attack in its entirety and called on the security agencies to do their jobs by fishing out the assailants.
Recall that Ortom said that he was attacked by 15 gunmen on his farm at Tyo-Mu community, along the Makurdi/Gboko road.
He blamed herdsmen for the attack, which he hinged on his strict enforcement of the anti-open grazing law and campaign against killer herdsmen in the state.
The Benue governor further alleged that the decision to assassinate him was taken at a meeting of herders in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
However, he did not disclose how he came about the information.
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“I was alarmed for singling me out as the only person who is creating problem for the entire Fulani race and behind the scenes, I also heard that in the meeting, I was targeted for elimination. This was the information I got that they will go after me either in my home, farm or wherever they get me,” Ortom stated after the attack.
Reacting, Secretary-General of MACBAN, Usman Baba-Ngelzerma said that the group knew nothing about the attempt on the governor’s life.
He further explained that MACBAN did not hold any meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, where the plot was allegedly hatched.
“First, we have to condemn the attack. Then, secondly, if there was an attack, that must be a criminal activity which must be directed to the security agencies for proper investigation.
“As far as we are concerned, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has never had meeting anywhere in Adamawa State because I read on social media that there was a meeting in Adamawa State where that arrangement was made. My association did not have any meeting in Adamawa State.
“Our association is not a criminal association, we don’t know anything about any attack anywhere. If there was an attack, let the security agencies find out who attacked him. That is the proper channel to be followed, you don’t politicise criminality. Crime is a crime by whomever. Let the security agencies fish out the perpetrators of the act,” the Miyetti Allah scribe told The Punch.
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