The Zonal Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, South-East Chapter, Alhaji Gidado Siddikki, as appealed to the Anambra State government through the Ministry of Justice and the prison authority in the state, to look into the unlawful detention of some of its members.
According to The PUNCH, Siddikki in a chat with Journalists also claimed that its members are being detained without trial at different correctional centres in Anambra State.
Siddikki also alleged that some of its members have been labelled as kidnappers, armed robbers and clamped into detention by the police for over five years without trial.
He stated these while briefing journalists in Awka on Sunday, just as he appealed to the Anambra State government through the Ministry of Justice and the prison authority in the state, to look into the matter, with a view to putting an end to the development.
He said, “The leadership of MACBAN in the zone is currently sad about the way herdsmen are been dehumanised and labelled kidnappers and armed robbers in the region.
“We are here for our business, of which we are all aware that it is the ranching of cows in the bushes and not for criminal activities.
“So many of our people have been in the prison yards for more than five years without the state government looking into their case file or giving them a trial. All this hatred is caused by some disgruntled elements living with the Igbo who do not like Fulani in the religion.
“Wherever they see a Fulani man, because of the hatred, they will report him to any nearest police station via a weighty allegation, whether he committed the offence or not, and the Police will arrest him, charge him to court, and afterwards, the herder will be dumped inside the prison yards and their file kept in court custody without trial”.