Miyetti Allah: Livestock industry may collapse if our members keep getting killed

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has alleged that five of its members have been killed by either bandits or kidnappers in 2021.

TheCable had reported that Abubakar Abdullahi, chairman of Lere LGA chapter of MACBAN in Kaduna, was killed by gunmen on Friday.

Abdullahi was said to have been forced to raise N250,000 before he was killed.

In a statement issued by Othman Ngelzarma, MACBAN national secretary, the group decried the increasing level of insecurity faced by its members nationwide.

MACBAN said the killings are affecting the association’s businesses and could lead to the collapse of the livestock industry.

“The death of Abubakar brings to five the number of MACBAN officials killed either by bandits, kidnappers or cattle rustlers this year across the country,” the statement reads.

“Alhaji Abubakar, aged 58 was kidnapped on the 16th of September and after paying ransom his dead body was found by the roadside on Friday, September 17, on the outskirts of Lere town.

“The challenge is making it almost impossible for our members to conduct their businesses in peace. This is partly responsible for the escalating cost of livestock and livestock products.

“If the insecurity continues, it might collapse the livestock industry in the country.”

The association called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“While we condole with the family of the deceased, the Kaduna State Chapter of MACBAN, we call on the security agencies to properly investigate this and a lot of other dastardly acts across the country and bring the culprits to justice,” MACBAN said.

“We call on the Federal Government to, therefore, ensure that the new policies geared towards improved livestock production are properly implemented.”