ECOWAS Trans-Human Protocol: Nigeria must separate local Fulani from illegal aliens — MACBAN

By Peter Duru

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, has said it was wrong for Nigerians to lump local Fulani herders with those illegally finding their way into the country and causing crises.

Secretary-General of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Gadzama, said this at the event marking the third year anniversary of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue State, 2017.

The theme of the event was “Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017: A Recipe for Security and Peaceful Co-Existence.”

He also accused the Federal Government of not implementing the Trans-Human Protocol of the ECOWAS Treaty.

Represented by a Director at the National Headquarters of MACBAN, Alhaji Adamu Toro, Gadzama said: “Don’t forget that the conflicts that we have had within the sub-region— in Northern Niger, in Libya and other places— are impacting on us because it allows people to have access to small arms and it is these small arms that are escalating all these crises that we are seeing.

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Continuing, the MACBAN scribe said: “Now, the question you should ask is, is it the Fulani that have settled here for a very long time that are causing these problems or the other people that are coming from other places?

“It seems that we are not making a distinction. We lump them together and saying we are all creating problems.

“But we have told the government several times, we as an association, are willing to partner with the government.

“We can plan so that we can fish out the miscreants among the pastoralist group as well as within the other groups, so that we can have peace.

“We are used to peace before; it is not an impossible job, it can be done.”

ECOWAS Trans-Human Protocol guidelines

Gadzama also accused the Federal Government of not implementing the Trans-Human Protocol in the ECOWAS Treaty to check the influx of non-profiled herders into the country.

The MACBAN Secretary-General pointed out that foreign herders move into the country at will because the ECOWAS Trans-Human Protocol was not being enforced.

His words: “There is what we call Trans-Human Protocol in the ECOWAS Treaty that allows other people from other countries to come into our country.

“Look at the conflicts all around us. Who monitors the proliferation of arms and the use of drugs? These are the things that fuel conflicts.

“It (Trans-Human Protocol) recognises nomadic movements. But then it says there are clear guidelines. It is only Nigeria that does not implement these guidelines.

“If anybody is coming into the country from the border, we must note the number of cows he has.

“The person must be given a certificate and we must ensure that the livestock is well vaccinated.

“Nigeria is not doing our own part of the work. That is why they move.”

VANGUARD

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