Plan to attack South East is false, says Miyetti Allah

▪ prays for peace in Nigeria, at Sallah
From Chuks Moses, Awka
The leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN the umbrella body governing the activities and welfare of the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria has denied recent reports, which claimed it has concluded plans to simultaneously attack the five south eastern states of the country.
The allegation had indicated that the sinister plan was due to over what it called the “stubbornness” of the governors of Abia, Anambra Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
But denying the allegation in an interview with journalists at the central eid el-fitri praying ground for Moslems in Awka this afternoon Zonal chairman of the group in the South East, AIh. Gidado Sidikki said that the reports ascribed to him, in which he was quoted to have said that states of the South East zone would be attacked by herders were blatant falsehood.
According to him, “Few days ago, we woke up to a malicious publication in a Social Media platform, purporting a phantom statement in Abuja entitled ‘South East will Boil any moment from now because of their Stubbornness ascribed to the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, erroneously assigned to me.
“My mission here is simply to expose the lie in the mischievous publication. First while it is my wish to inform the public that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria did not make any statement to the effect of the content of the publication either in Abuja or anywhere for that matter, I humbly would wish to correctly place my designation as the Chairman of South East Zone of the Association.”
He said the publication which referred to him as “the leader of cattle breeders in Nigeria”, was another means of knowing that the interview was not from him.
Sidikki admitted that MACBAN in the zone has always had a warm relationship with the host governors, and that their host communities have also been in good terms with them, despite small issues that were instantly resolved as it comes.
He said further: “I wish to state that this warmth has not been completely devoid of flashes of momentary conflicts at few locations. Such instances were however promptly addressed by the authorities and warm communality restored amongst the people.
“Given the increasing orientation and reorientation of our people and the locals who are our landlords here, and given the strong commitment of the state governors to peaceful relationship across board, one harbours no doubts that the relationship between our herders and their landlords can only be increasingly better as time progresses.
“It is therefore my intention, while dispelling the published rumour from the pit of malicious mischief, to share my upbeat spirit with all of us. It is my utmost belief that the sincere and committed understanding we all propagate today will yield us minimal rancour if not rancour free society tomorrow.”
He used the occasion of the sallah prayers to urge all citizens to pray for peace and successful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari