We don’t have any vigilante group in Ondo – Miyetti Allah

The Ondo State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Gabar Garba, has declared that there is no herdsmen vigilante group operating in the state. Garba told journalists that a rumour that herdsmen had formed a vigilante group in Ondo State was unfounded and could not be substantiated. Some news platforms […]

The Ondo State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Gabar Garba, has declared that there is no herdsmen vigilante group operating in the state.

Garba told journalists that a rumour that herdsmen had formed a vigilante group in Ondo State was unfounded and could not be substantiated.

Some news platforms had reported last week that suspected Fulani herdsmen had raised vigilante groups in the state.

An identity card of an alleged member of armed herdsmen found at a spot in Akoko, according to the reports, indicated that they were members of the Ikare-Akoko branch of the Miyetti Allah association.

But Garba said there was never a time the Miyetti Allah members in Ondo State came together to form a vigilante group, adding the association wouldn’t do anything without carrying the police along.

The Miyetti Allah leader had told Daily Trust in a recent interview that the group was working with the state government to fish out the bad eggs among herdsmen, whom he insisted were not their members.

Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said there were no Fulani vigilante operatives anywhere in the state.

Joseph said, “I am not aware of any Fulani vigilante group in the state and I don’t know where the people got such information from. What we have are local vigilante groups that usually assist our local Divisional Police Officers to curb the menace of crime and criminality in the state.

“These local vigilante groups work in synergy with the police and I don’t know why people will say they are a herdsmen vigilante group.”

He maintained that contrary to a report, the police had not arrested any herdsmen vigilante operatives.