No justification for Numan killings, says MACBAN

From Umar Dankano Yola.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN),North East wing has berated an alleged media coordinated propaganda by the Bachama Cultural Association, Pene Da Bwatiye over the recent killing or genocide of over fifty Fulani women and children in kikan,Kodenti and Shaforon villages in Numan Local Government of Adamawa state.
MACBAN condemned the unfortunate killings of its people accusing Bachama militia of gravious offence against humanity
In a statement signed by the National Vice Chairman North East Zone of MACBAN, Alhaji Umaru Mafindi Danburam, the association said its sad that instead of condemning the killings by its militia, the way other sensible organizations had done including Adamawa branch of Muslims Council and Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Pene Da Bwatiye had in it press statement engaged in whipping ethno-religious sentiment and listing perceived incidents of herdsmen attacks nationwide in an attempt to justify the Numan killings.
Damburam said the attempt by Pene Da Bwatiye to portray herdsmen as terrorists and describing them as cousins to Boko Haram as well as the criticism of those that condemned the killings particularly Muslim Council and Senator Danjuma Goje who raised the matter in National Assembly was a clear confirmation that Pene Da Bwatiye fully supported the “ethnic cleansing” against the Fulanis in Numan and its environs.
“It is sad that Pene Da Bwatiye would chose to engage in such criticism and sentiments against Muslim Council, Sen. Danjuma Goje and other concern Nigerians for speaking out for the truth instead of condemning the dastardly act of their militia as done by other groups and association including the state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who spoke against the killings.
“The attempt by the Bachama group to embark on scouting for alleged incidents across Nigeria that were blamed on herdsmen betrayed their futile effort to justify the barbaric action of their militia against innocent women to and children,” Damburam said.
While noting that MACBAN had never claimed that all herdsmen are saint, Damburam said that Pene Da Bwatiye needed to cover its head in shame for it attempt to justify criminality by Bachama militia.
He noted that it was on record before the incident that the Bachamas had declared their area of domination known as Numan Federation as a no go area for Fulani herdsmen.
“It’s no secret that before the killings the district head of Numan, Mr Phineas Garba along with some village heads had earlier summoned Fulani Ardos (leaders) and ordered them with their communities to vacate the area where they have been living for over a century or face serious consequences,” Damburam said.
He called for adequate security in vulnerable communities in Numan and the need for the Adamawa state government to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to probe the killings.
Pene Da Bwatiye had in a press statement on Saturday denied having a militia group and accused Adamawa Muslim Council and Senator Danjuma Goje who accused Bachama militia of perpetrating the Numan killing of “lies and name calling”.