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The move by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to set up vigilante groups across the states have caused serious commotion.
Herdsmen
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the Fulani socio-cultural association has announced the establishment of its nationwide security outfit in order to curtail security challenges confronting the country.
The move was announced on Wednesday.
According to Vanguard, the National President and Secretary of the association, Bello Bodejo and Saleh Alhassan, respectively, disclosed news of the formation of the outfit in a communique issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
They said the outfit, code-named Miyetti Allah Vigilante, is aimed at assisting security agencies in checkmating such crimes as kidnapping, cattle rustling and banditry.
The formation of the outfit, however, drew the ire of other socio-cultural and political groups, such as the Yoruba’s Afenifere, Igbo’s Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Niger Delta’s PANDEF, who described its national outlook as unacceptable.
They contended that the activities of the Fulani security outfit should be localised, rather than giving it national colouration.
However, the Miyetti Allah leaders said the vigilante would operate according to the constitutional provisions and legal requirements of the country.
They also called on the Inspector-General of Police to protect Fulani pastoralists across the country from tribal hordes, ethnic militias and cattle rustlers.
They also urged security agencies to commence the process of detailed documentation of the violence against Fulani pastoralists, including the collection of exhibits and all relevant information to isolate the perpetrators of the violence, arrest and prosecute them to forestall reprisals.
The Miyetto Allah leaders frowned at the alleged continued extra-judicial killings of Fulani pastoralists by some security agencies in the country, calling on the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to investigate the atrocities and ensure justice was served.
They commended the efforts of the federal and state governments to address the conflicts between farmers and herders, cattle rustling, kidnapping and banditry.
However, the Benue State Government has condemned the creation of a vigilanted by Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
Terver Akase, Governor Samuel Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, in a rejoinder on Thursday, said Benue has not problem with their pronouncement.
He, however, declared that the vigilante will not be allowed to operate in Benue.
“As much as we do not have any problem with Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore floating a security outfit in other states, it is important to say that such a vigilante group will not operate in Benue State.
“Miyetti Allah has no constitutional right to establish a nationwide security outfit. Benue does not need the Miyetti Allah vigilante.”
Akase noted that the state government was working with conventional security forces and has already established a vigilante group at the state, local government and ward levels.
He cited the ongoing recruitment of personnel for community policing, disclosing that they will undergo trained as recommended by Inspector General of Police.
Akase added that the idea of running a nationwide vigilante group is a mere strategy by the Fulani body, “to elevate their nefarious and inhuman activities to another level.”
“They have repeatedly claimed responsibility for the killing of thousands of children, women and other vulnerable people in different states. Yet, members walk freely in Abuja and hold press conferences threatening to unleash terror on Nigerians.
“We once more call for the arrest and prosecution of officials of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, to end the spate of crime in the country.”
Benue urged the federal government to stop looking elsewhere for bandits who have been killing innocent citizens.
“Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are coordinators of banditry in the country, and officials of the group reside in Abuja”, the statement concluded.
