CAN President
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the federal
government to declare the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of
Nigeria (MACBAN) a terrorist organisation.
This is coming days after Boko Haram insurgents killed Lawan Andimi, CAN
chairman in Michika local government area of Adamawa state.
In a communique in Abuja, on Thursday, Samson Ayokunle, CAN president,
condemned the killing of Andimi and other Christians across the country.
“Nigeria is under a siege orchestrated by the murderous
blood-thirsty and criminally-minded Boko Haram terrorists, Fulani
terrorist herdsmen, bandits and kidnappers who are all armed to the
teeth, dressed in army uniforms, and gradually overwhelming our security
agencies,” the communique read.
“They have been going around invading predominantly Christian
villages and towns, killing and maiming our youths and elders, men and
women; raping our women and daughters, decapitating children and
disembowelling pregnant women, and subjecting people to coldblooded
murder.”
Ayokunle said herdsmen under the platform of Miyetti Allah have
contributed to the killings of Christians in some northern communities.
He alleged thatb Miyetti Allah has a similar agenda with the Boko Haram sect.
“The Fulani herdsmen were in Aghatu land in Benue State and other
predominantly Christian communities; killing and maiming their victims.
Mass burials have become the order of the day and to add salt to the
injury, it was the Federal Government that was justifying the killings
of the citizens by accusing some governors of making laws against open
grazing,” he said.
“As if that were not enough, the Miyetti Allah the Fulani herdsmen
have claimed responsibility for the killings and justifying their
actions. In other instances, they disown the killers, telling us that
there are other herdsmen who are not their members but who also register
with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“These terrorists have not hidden their goal to Islamise Nigeria and
that is what they have in common with the Fulani herdsmen. They have
turned the North-East geo-political zone, especially, Borno, Adamawa,
and Yobe, into killing fields.
“The Federal government should either label the Miyetti Allah Fulani
Association a terrorist organisation as being regarded in the terror
index. The Federal Government should order the arrest of the leadership
of the Miyetti Allah Groups in who are sponsoring and perpetuating the
crime of Nigeria and prosecute them for all the killings in Southern
Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, and Taraba states, among others.”
He also asked Buhari to “overhaul the security council with a view
of bringing in new heads of all the security agencies and the
para-military which no religion or part of the country will dominate”.