Members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in Anambra state, have alleged that natives no longer rent houses to them.
Leader of MACBAN in the South East, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, disclosed this to journalists after attending Governor Charles Soludo’s one-year Anniversary in office.
The event was held in Akwa, the state capital.
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Siddiki cited Anaku, Umueje, Omor, Igbakwu, Omasi, Umumbo, Umuerum and Ifite-Ogwari all in Ayamelum local government council of the areas of the state as places where MACBAN members had been denied accommodation.
He called on Governor Soludo to urgently intervene for the sake of peace and oneness.
Siddiki said his members have a cordial relationship with the indigenes in spite of “some cases of misunderstanding”.
“Our interest in the areas was purely economic. No herder was interested in contesting the ownership of land with members of their host communities across the state.
“We commended the Police and DSS for their prompt responses whenever there is a conflict between our members and our host communities in the state,” he said.
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The South East MACBAN leader, however, said much still needed to be done to ensure that law-abiding citizens, including herders, were free to carry out their businesses without hindrances in the state.
According to him, as cattle breeders they were asking for a secure environment to do their grazing business.
He continued, “We are ready to support our host communities in any capacity they want us to, in order to make life meaningful for everyone and to sustain the already peaceful co-existence in the areas,” Siddiki said.