The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has said that they would do everything to resist Federal Government’s plans to establish cattle colonies and the ban on open grazing as passed by some State Governments.
Speaking through its North East Chairman, Alhaji Mafindi Danburam, the group said open grazing was the tradition of a Fulani man and that no one had the right to stop anyone from practicing their tradition, adding that colony was not their culture.
Danburam told Punch, “You see, we know the plan of the Federal Government and I tell you that anything that infringes on our rights, we will go to court.
“Open grazing is our culture and you cannot wake up one day and stop me from practising my culture.
“Cattle colony is not our culture. We have our culture and tradition and we want to maintain it.”
The Taraba State Government had earlier said that the implementation of its anti-open grazing law, which started on Wednesday, will be a gradual process, but the group is in total objection to the development.
Danburan added, “As the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the North-East, who is also the immediate past Chairman of the group in Taraba State, I want to tell you that we do not accept the open grazing prohibition law being implemented in Taraba State.
“We don’t need it, we don ’t want it and that is why we are challenging the law in a court of competent jurisdiction — the state High Court.
“The case is before her lordship, the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Josephine Tuktur. So, we won ’t do anything before the outcome of the case in court.”
