National Leadership of Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Miyetti Allah, has concluded arrangements to help boost the economy of Kogi State by siting the largest cattle market in the country in Lokoja.
The National Organizing Secretary of the body, Ali Saleh, made the revelation in Lokoja, Thursday, at a Security Summit held at the Lokoja Local Government Secretariat.
Saleh recalled that the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, did not mince words when he told them of his administration’s commitment towards improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of the State through improved revenue base when he recently played host to the national leadership of the association on a working visit to the Government House in Lokoja.
He said the Governor did not also mince his words when he told them of his commitment towards consolidating on his achievements in the security subsector so far, saying that even though the Governor welcomed them to Kogi State, he made it clear that he could not toy with the security of lives and property of his people.
“We understand the security threat being faced in many parts of the country, including Kogi State, but Governor Yahaya Bello has made it clear that he would not hesitate to prosecute anyone that is not ready to live in peace in Kogi State.
“As we speak, we are aware that there are some bad eggs masquerading as herdsmen, but the truth is, those involved in cattle rustling and armed robbery are not part of us and wherever they are, we do not recognize them because they pose dangers to us too,” the organizing secretary had noted.
He used the occasion to reveal that the lives of peaceful herders are not safe across the country as the bad eggs that have infiltrated them have also killed, maimed, kidnapped and generally destroyed several Fulani lives and property across the nation.
“We have had to pay ransoms in several hundreds of millions of naira to those people, despite of which they end up killing victims of kidnap. We are victims to those wicked ones, as I speak, the life of one of our national leaders hangs in the balance as a result of attempt on his life.”
He therefore called on the people of the state to thank Governor Bello for his foresight and commitment to the security of lives and property of Kogians, saying arrangements are also in top gear for the national body to go round the state to sensitise their people on the need for peaceful coexistence with their host communities and the need for them to also carry out their civic responsibilities when the time comes.
Saleh challenged the people of the state to examine the contribution of cattle breeders in improving the economy of states such as Lagos State, saying that very soon, the entire country would converge on Lokoja to get their cows for beef.
Meanwhile, other leadership of the body have also reiterated their commitment towards ensuring peaceful coexistence among their people and their hosts, and thanked the administrator for Lokoja LG for organizing the summit which they said was timely.
Credit: InsideStory
