We’re Not Responsible For Attack On Your Convoy, Miyetti Allah Tells Ortom

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has reacted to the attack on the convoy of Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom.

Ortom’s convoy came under attack by unknown gunmen on Saturday along Tyomu community in Makurdi Local Government Area of the state, while on a visit to his farm.

The governor alleged that the attack was carried out by armed Fulani herdsmen.

However, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, National President of MACBAN, dismissed the allegation that the organisation was behind the attack.

According to Daily Trust, Bodejo instead accused Ortom of harbouring hatred against MACBAN since it sued him over the controversial anti-grazing law he enacted in Benue.

“There was nothing secret about the conference we held in Yola. We called for unity and sensitised Fulani on the need for peaceful coexistence with other people. Ortom lied, we don’t know anything about the said attack.

“Ortom hates Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore ever since we took him to court. We are still in court with him. If he claims we said something in Yola; yes, we called on him to review the law because Fulani are losing their cattle.

“Journalists (in Yola) asked me about the Benue anti-grazing law; I explained that the law was discriminatory. The Fulani are being fined unjustly. We advised him to review the law because the Fulani are forced to sell their cows to pay fine,” he said.

The newspaper also said the Benue State chairman of MACBAN, Risku Mohammed, denied the allegation that Fulani herders were behind the attack on Ortom’s convoy.

“But, if the governor was attacked when he went to his farm, the Fulani couldn’t have been responsible. They didn’t know he was going to farm so how could they have attacked him? It’s not the Fulani,” Mohammed was quoted as saying.