The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), has accused a Bachama group, Pene Da Bwatiye, of lending support to recent killing of 55 Fulani women and children in Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State by suspected Bachama militia.
A statement signed by the National Vice Chairman of MACBAN in North East, Umaru Mafindi Danburam, said the Bachama group should have joined other groups including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in condemning the bloodshed rather than recalling attacks perceived to have been carried out by hersdmen in the past in an attempt to justify the killing of defenceless childrenby the militia.
"It is sad that Pene Da Bwatiye would choose to engage in such criticism and sentiments against Muslim Council, Sen. Danjuma Goje and other concern Nigerians for speaking out for the truth instead of condemning the dastardly act of their militia as done by other groups and association including the state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who spoke against the killings,” the statement read..
"The attempt by the Bachama group to embark on scouting for alleged incidents across Nigeria that were blamed on herdsmen betrayed their futile effort to justify the barbaric action of their militia against innocent women and children," Damburam said.
The statement also alleged that Bachamas had planned to evict local Fulanis from Numan and other areas known as Numan Federation, adding that some traditional rulers in the area had warned Fulanis to leave before the attack.
"It’s no secret that before the killings the district head of Numan, Mr Phineas Garba along with some village heads had earlier summoned Fulani Ardos (leaders) and ordered them with their communities to vacate the area where they have been living for over a century or face serious consequences," Damburam said.
Pene Da Bwatiye had earlier in a press statement by its National Vice Chairman 1, H.O Tadaunos accused the Adamawa State Muslim Council, MACBAN and Senator Danjuma Goje of attempt to create an impression that Bachamas had a militia, saying it was Fulani herds men that terrorised innocent farmers across Nigeria and in other parts of the world.
"They all alluded to the fallacy that the Bachama extraction of the Bwatiye people had a ‘Militia’ and that our people embarked on ‘Genocide’ and ‘Ethnic Cleansing’. These are weighty words/ phrases mischievously used to incite well meaning Nigerians and tarnish the good name of our peace loving people,” the statement by Pene Bwatiye said .
"Rather than keeping quiet therefore, we say without fear of contradiction that the world over, it is the Fulani herdsmen that established a terrorist militia which has been terrorizing farmers, eating crops and destroying livelihood all over Nigeria—believed to have killed more innocent people than their dreaded cousins in terror, the Boko Haram and yet without arrest.”
