Miyetti Allah sets up 55-man legal team over ‘injustice against herdsmen’
By David Odama
The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Fulani socio-cultural association, on Monday vowed to tackle injustice suffered by its members across the country, saying it must come to an end.
To this end, the organisation has constituted a 55-member legal committee to to take stock of all cases against it members nationwide with a view to seek legal redress.
Two other committees comprising enlightenment and nomadic education were also inaugurated to address the problem of education and social cohesion.
The association declared their stand during their annual general meeting held in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.
According to the association, the continuous incarceration of Fulani cattle herders in the country has compelled the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani to inaugurated a 55-member legal team to rescue herdsmen currently serving unjust jail terms.
Speaking at the group’s AGM, National President of the association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo, said a situation where all Fulani herdsmen were treated as criminally-minded people was untrue, unjust and unfair.
He added that the legal team have been mandated by the association to provide legal assistance to all herders unjustly treated, humiliated and sent to jail in their fatherland.
While urging the herders to live in peace and harmony with other Nigerians to stem the rate of accusation and been arrested by the security agencies, Bodejo further warned that anyone fermenting trouble among other citizens of the country and gets arrested by the security agencies, will not be rescued by the association.
“Many of our kinsmen are in correctional facilities across the country for unjust reasons. They are always arrested and sent to jail simply because they are pastoring around grazing areas.
“Others were arrested just because they are Fulani people.
“The situation has been very worrisome, that is why we decided to constitute the 55-man legal team to help us fight the cause of our people especially the innocent ones to get justice.
“This association does not encourage violence. We believe in one Nigeria and remain committed to the peace and united nation, so anyone of our kinsmen found to be involved unjustified trouble will not be assisted by our lawyers,” he said.
On her part, the First Lady of Bauchi State and Matron of the Association, Hajiya Aisha Bala Muhammed, maintained that people from all tribes in the country were involved in crime and as such Fulani herders should not be treated as if crimes begins and end with them.
She encouraged members of the association to embrace the culture of educating their children and wards so that crime can be drastically reduced in the society.
Earlier in his welcome address, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Chairman of Karu LGA, James Thomas, assured the association of the continuous support of the state government in issues affecting its members.
