Herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, on Wednesday declared that most of the suspected bandits abducting Nigerians are displaced herders in the country, who were dispossessed of their cows.
The group reiterated that herders face many challenges from hostile hosts which include vigilante and other criminal elements who rustle cows in the country.
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Spokesman, Saleh Alhassan, recounted his experience on Wednesday while appearing as a guest on PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.
Alhassan further bemoaned that some displaced herders in the country, who were dispossessed of their cows, often end up becoming bandits carrying out several attacks including kidnapping on Nigerians.
He stressed that it was unfair to label every herder as a criminal, adding that it was sad that herders have been singled out for victimisation.
According to him, the herders-turned-bandits are fighting an economic fight and not an ideological fight.
The spokesman also warned that states banning open grazing and chasing out herders from their domains are creating crisis unbeknownst to them.
Details later…
