The Incident was revealed by the South East Chairman of Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, saying that the abduction took place at the Fulani Settlement in Obene communityOgbaeunLGA on Saturday at about 1.30am.
Siddiki said, abductors have contacted them and are demanding for his and N4 million as ransom.
He explained that the gunmen stormed the settlement with sophisticated weapons and charms and made away with 10 herders and 300 cows.
He said, “As I speak to you now, I have reported the incident to the Police and the DSS for prompt action. I appeal to the kidnappers to release our members and their cows; those kidnapped are mere strugglers.”
The Fulani leader in the South East said, conflicts between herdsmen and host communities across the country have been politicised, lamenting that even where herdsmen are victims of attack, no one would listen to them.
He said, criminals have disguised in
Fulani attires and committed crimes in Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Southern Kaduna and Anambra to give the herdsmen a bad name, thereby making it difficult for them to get exoneration when crimes were committed.
“Most of the conflicts can be averted if dialogue and proper conflict management skills are established in the six geopolitical zones of the country,” he added.
Siddik, however, commended the Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, for initiating a peace and reconciliation committee to address the security challenges in the state and the South East region at large, with a view to achieving realistic solutions.
He reiterated that the association under his watch in the South East, South-South regions will continue to preach unity and peace among Nigerians irrespective of tribe, ethnicity and religious placement.
When contacted, Anambra police spokesperson, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident and urged the leadership of Miyetti Allah to come up with more information that could enable the Police to commence aggressive investigation into the matter.
Ikenga said, “Yes, we are aware of the incident, but we want the leadership of the association to supply us with more information, since the kidnappers have established contact with the victims’ families.”
