Southern Kaduna crisis: Our animals dying of hunger, Fulani herders cry out
//Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna N/w Nigeria//
National President of Fulani youths in Nigeria under the aegis of Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association of Nigeria (JAFUYAN), Alhaji Saidu Maikano on Tuesday raised the alarm that cattle belonging to his members are dying of hunger because they cannot go grazing in crisis ladden Southern part of Kaduna State.
Speaking in a chat with journalists, Maikano also added that about nine Fulani boys who were brave enough to take cattle for grazing are currently missing in the area, without returning home in the last few days ago.
He said this was the bitter experience Fulani people residing in Narido village in Kauru local government area of Kaduna State are passing through.
To this end, the Fulani youth leader called on the police and other security agencies to give the herdsmen security cover in order to go about their normal business of grazing.
“We have been searching for about nine of our boys for the past five days, and we are yet to find them. We don’t know what has become of them in Narido village of Kauru local government area.
“Our cows are dying of hunger because we are afraid to take them for 24-hour grazing for fear of being attacked by unknown gunmen and cattle rustlers.
“We are therefore calling on the State government, Federal government, the Police, and all security agencies to give us cover to enable us take our cattle out for grazing and feeding.
“We don’t want conflict with anybody, we are peace loving people, but we don’t want anybody to tamper with our source of livelihood, which is our cattle.
“As farming is important to other people, so also is rearing of cattle to us, and I want to use this opportunity to debunk the bad impression that Fulani people do not forget and forgive wrong done to them. We forgive because we belief in the existence and power of Almighty God”, he said.