The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has appealed to the federal and state governments to consider herders in the distribution of palliatives to cushion the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.

The chairman of the Kwara State chapter of MACBAN, Alhaji Bello Abubakar, made the appeal in Ilorin on Monday.

Abubakar said herders were the most affected people by the fuel subsidy removal because the majority of them do not have bank accounts and have to spend a lot of money on transportation to take their livestock to market.

He also expressed concern over the high cost of food items and urged the government to release food items from the national reserve and sell them at subsidized rates to ordinary Nigerians.

Abubakar called on the government to provide vaccines to herders to prevent the death of their livestock from strange diseases. He also warned criminal elements among the Fulanis to discard crime and other social vices.

The MACBAN chairman also urged herders and farmers to adopt dialogue in resolving their differences and ensure peaceful coexistence in their communities.