By Palma Ileye
Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, KACRAN, has expressed concerns on incessant violence in the country, also urging bandits, volunteers to end atrocities.
KACRAN, also said that the shameful, brutal killings of innocent Nigerians, the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira, and the rustling of livestock in the Northern part of the country were issues generating heated debate worldwide.
In a press release signed by Hon Khalil Moh’d Bello, National President, KACRAN stated that there were worries over why innocent members and law-abiding citizens have now become victims of circumstances noting that, “The nature of their pastoral occupation forces them to be in the bush, where they face all types of ruthless extortion in the name of Zakat or are forced to give one of their sons to join banditry as a condition to continue their business of livestock production.”
Bello raised concerns affecting members of the association saying, “Secondly, our members are also vulnerable to volunteers who, instead of entering the deep forests where the actual bandits are, always end their operations by killing innocent pastoralists. Likewise, when the security operatives attack the bandits, too many times innocent pastoralists are killed. We are the people who are being forced to give the actual bandits cover, as the bandits will not allow us to freely go into the deep forest to do our business otherwise.
“We of KACRAN are also so concerned and state that, if God forbid, an external attack were to happen, our innocent pastoralists would be the first and the last target, just as they have been during previous attacks by Volunteers or security operatives.
“We find ourselves in a moment of great concern. Say it to anyone if you so wish: the shameful, brutal killings of innocent Nigerians, the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira, and the rustling of livestock in the Northern part of our country are issues generating heated debate worldwide.
“We are highly worried that our innocent members and law-abiding citizens have now become victims of circumstances.”
On their stance and condemnation of these attacks, KACRAN’s President said as an association of peace and unity for whatsoever reason, rejects in totality and condemns in unmistakable terms any act of killing innocent Nigerians also calling on bandits and volunteers to end their act, which was a heinous crime that has no cause or justification.
While working hard towards promoting peaceful coexistence between pastoralists and farmers, he said that the association was highly disturbed and very worried about how people in their real common sense would kill their fellow human being.
He said among the bandits’ condemnable acts, KACRAN rejects and strongly confirmed the killing in some parts of Katsina, Kano, and Zamfara States where bandits broke the peace deals reached with some respected peace-loving communities.
He said, “We are all aware that some few months ago, the people of some Local Governments in Katsina State accepted the bandits’ deal to reconcile their misunderstanding and live in peace, but unfortunately, as reported by media, some disgruntled elements of the bandits broke the promise and moved ahead to painfully attack, kill, and abduct some communities who reposed trust in the peace accord.
“The same sad incident happened in some Local Governments of Zamfara State, where Bandits broke the agreement reached with the concerned farmers who gave them money to be allowed to harvest their farm produce, but unfortunately, they broke the accord, attacked them, killed some innocent people, and abducted others for ransom.
“The security volunteers, on their own part, also, if they want to attack the bandits, instead of going into the deep forest to confront the actual bandits, they unfortunately resort to attacking innocent pastoralists, killing their wives, elderly, and children, as well as stealing their livestock. As a result, the bandits follow them to their towns, attacking and killing innocent people who have nothing to do with what the volunteers are doing.”
KACRAN described the recent bandits’ attacks as a setback in the move to assist in the amicable solution of the North West and North Central conflict aimed to restore peace, confidence, trust, and unity in the region and the nation at large.
In the same vein, the association in the statement called on the Katsina State Government to support the peace accord organized and reached between some Local Government communities in the State to enable them to confiscate the bandits’ and volunteers’ weapons to end the insecurity in the State.
In conclusion, they said, “We want to assure Katsina, any State in the North West/North Central, and the Federal Government that KACRAN is ready to help through dialogue, kinetic, and non-kinetic approaches to end the insurgency in the said North West and North Central regions and the country as a whole.”
