Fulani herdsmen, threat to Nigeria -Middle Belt group

The group, Middle Belt Youth Council, has expressed concern over the activities of herdsmen in the country, particularly in the Middle Belt area.

The group said the activities of the herdsmen were obvious threat to the unity of the country.

Suggesting what it termed a permanent solution to the problem imposed by the herdsmen, the group in a statement signed by its president, Emma Zopmal, said Nigerians should support the anti-grazing bill.

“In the light of incessant threats to one Nigeria posed by killer-herdsmen, we want to call on good people of Middle Belt to first of all support the Anti-grazing Bill”, said the group.

Grazing by Fulani herdsmen, it explained, in the middle belt area had become the major cause of conflicts in the region.

It said therefore that it would be necessary for a  total ban on open grazing so as to save the lives of the people and their farmlands.

The group also declared that it was not a part of the north, but Middle Belt.

It’s words:  “We want to clarify those who think that the Middle Belt is part of the North: God created everywhere and everyone and He gave it to whom He chooses and Middle Belt is a creation of God and not man (Usman dan Fodio).

“Therefore, we choose what to use our land for, how to run it and where we want to be.

“Middle Belt has been a home for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South-South and the South-West without any form of discrimination against anyone.

“We’ve accommodated every Nigerian for  centuries now.

“We deserve respect and commendations”.

Speaking on the warning to Igbo youths to vacate the north, the group said the Middle Belt would gladly welcome the Igbo to come to its area and feel at home.

The press statement further reads:  “If the Arewa youths are sending away Igbos from their states, we in the Middle Belt are ready to offer them accommodation in our land (which is an inheritance from God and nobody will take it away from us) for them to continue with their life and businesses.

“Southern Nigeria people should also know that ‘Middle Belters’ are not northerners and we can never be because we’re not affiliated in terms of culture, language, education, economy, and general lifestyle.

“The Biafran struggle did not come as an accident but as a result of injustice and unfair treatment to regions, people or religion.

“Over the years, our federalism has been a fat lie that deprives political rights and freedom of some sections of the country while others benefit immensely from it. Middle Belt has been at the receiving end of this inequitable arrangement in which our people in Southern Kaduna, Southern Bauchi, Southern Borno, Southern Kebbi, Adamawa are under constant alienation and annihilation.

“Therefore, Middle Belt strongly stands for reconstruction of Nigeria not only restructuring. We’ll join hands with Southern Nigerian people to actualize it.

“We want to urge Middle Belters to remain resolute in making sure we protect our future against the claims by the Hausa/Fulani.

“More so, for want of peace and unity of dear country Nigeria, we call on Igbo nation to feel at home in the Middle Belt in an event they are sent away from the Arewa land”.