The Association of Fulani Chiefs and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has denied having a hand in the kidnap of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae.
The group said if it were true that those who committed the act were Fulani herdsmen, such persons could not have been genuine members of the association.
MACBAN Chairman in Ondo State, Bello Garba, at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, therefore, faulted the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, for calling for the expulsion of Fulani herdsmen from the South-West.
Garba admitted that Fulani herdsmen usually encroached on farms but argued that no Fulani herdsman would abandon his cattle and go about abducting people.
His words: “We have been relating with security agencies and we have never had any issue with residents before. The disagreement with farmers has been ongoing for sometime but we have mediated and settled it on several occasions.
“Most of the Fulani people that came into Ondo came in as cattle breeders and you don’t expect them to just leave their animals and be kidnapping. We have been residing in Ondo State for more than 100 years and no one has ever accused us of any heinous crime in Ondo State or caught us with weapons.
“As an Ondo resident, I condemn this act. Clearly, this is impersonation. We live with our families in Ondo. How can we engage in such an act? We are pleading with law enforcement agents to do more investigation and expose the real perpetrators.”
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