Nigerian cattle breeders say they are disappointed in how President Muhammadu Buhari handled the nation's security challenges.
They aired their grievance at a joint press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
The joint press conference held under the umbrella of the Pastoralists Association of Nigeria (COPAN) was attended by the National President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Dr Baba Othman Ngelzarma; President General, Fulbe Global Development and Rights Initiative (FGDRI), Dr Salim Musa Umar; and Vice President, Tabital Pulaaku International Nigeria Chapter, Alhaji Auwal A. Gonga.
They however seem optimistic that the incoming Tinubu-led administration would be different, positively.
Speaking at the event, one of the breeders' leaders, Dr Salim Umar urged the incoming administration to look into the activities of security agents in charge of volatile areas and mandate them to do more to protect innocent people who are continuously harassed by criminal vigilantes and bandits.
COPAN called on security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved to serve as a deterrent to other criminally minded individuals.
While calling on elected officials at all levels of government to be responsive to factors that may escalate insecurity in the country, the coalition also urged pastoral communities in the states to exercise restraint in the face of the calamity that has befallen them.
Responding to questions, Gonga urged the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to establish the Federal Ministry of Pastoralist Affairs to manage issues around this aspect of the economy in line with global best practise as obtainable in most neighbouring countries and other ECOWAS member countries.
According to him, the ministry will be charged with the responsibility of harmonising and managing the affairs of both farmers and pastoralists instead of leaving it in the hands of security agencies, whom he accused of partiality.
0 Comment(s)
SPONSORED
HEADLINE
TRENDING