Miyetti Allah blows hot over arrest of herdsmen
Sunday condemned the arrest of its members by the police and the Takum
Council Chairman, Shiban Tikari.
North-East zonal chairman of the association, Alhaji Mafindi Danburam,
stated this at a press conference in Jalingo.
According to him, some Miyetti Allah members had on March 14, gone to
the Bantaje Cattle Market to sell their cows and while on their way
back, 52 of them were arrested by the police under the alleged
instructions of Tikari and were later transferred to the state police
command in Jalingo.
"We have visited the command and demanded for reasons for their
arrest, charges against them and the complainant statement which have
not been made available to us," he said.
The zonal chairman called on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim
Idris, to intervene in the matter.
"We are really in the hands of elements of destruction who believe
that a Fulani man has no right to live and enjoy his right as a
citizen in Taraba State.
"Takum is now a no-go area for us. Our people are being killed, their
animals maimed but nobody has been arrested for these crimes," he
added.
Reacting, Taraba State Commissioner of Police, David Akinremi, said 54
persons were arrested following information the police received that
there was a mass movement of people suspected to be the perpetrators
of some violent attacks at Bawe, Panshen, Muji 1 and Muji 2 villages
in Takum Local Government Area.
He explained that his men acting on intelligence intercepted four
vehicles loaded with herdsmen, adding that some natives alleged that
the suspects had positioned themselves to attack the area.
Akinremi said he ordered his men to bring the suspects to the state
command in Jalingo for interrogation to determine their innocence.
The commissioner said even though nothing incriminating was found on
the suspects, the police had already conveyed 41 of them, who claimed
to have cows domiciled in the area to Kashimbilla, for further
investigation.
"About 41 of the suspects claimed they have cows at Kashimbilla", the
CP explained.
"So, we need to verify if there is any evidence that they took cows to
Bantaje for sale.
"We may probably find out from the native and middlemen if they had
performed any transaction with them."
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