By Haruna Umah
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has raised the alarm over alleged killings of its members by some vigilante group in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State. But the Vigilante group has denied it, describing the allegation as ‘‘all lies’’.
Deputy National President of the association, Alhaji Usaini Yusuf Bosso, made the allegation yesterday while addressing newsmen over what he termed, ‘‘unwarranted attacks and killing’’ of members in Minna, the state capital.
Bosso, who condemned constant attacks on the cattle breeders, said that at the moment about 21 MACBAN members were feared dead and their corpses burnt beyond recognition by the suspected vigilante members.
Also, one of the victims of such killings, Malam Muhammadu Dabo, recalled how three of his sons were burnt beyond recognition in his presence at Tashar Hajiya village in Mashegu by some members of the local vigilante group.
In quick reactions however, a senior official of the state vigilante group, Comrade Ahmed Gwani, described the allegations not only as full of lies but a plot by MACBAN members to cover their evil tracks in attempts to drag the image of vigilante in the state to the mud.
Gwani, who said that it was wrong for MACBAN to raise such claims, explained, “Members of Vigilante group in Niger State are not only law-abiding but people with proven integrity, and will not engage in such negative act”.
Meanwhile, Niger State government has waded into the misunderstanding between the state vigilante group and MACBAN with a view to ending already buiding up tension in the affected local government area.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who made the position of the state government known, said investigation had commenced as part of genuine effort to promote peaceful coexistence among the diverse groups across the state.
Unconfirmed reports however indicated that, with the lingering face-off, some Fulani started moving out of Niger State to the neighbouring states for fear of being attacked after many of them were said to have been killed by ‘unknown attackers’.