Boko Haram: NSCDC partners cattle rearers to fight terrorism

The Borno State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has said it would strengthen partnership with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to fight terrorism in the country.
The Commandant of the Corps in Borno State, Ibrahim Abdullahi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Maiduguri.
Abdullahi said that the move was in line with the directive of the Corps Commander-General, Abdullahi Gana, which is designed to promote unity and peaceful coexistence among farmers and herdsmen in the country.
“We are also mandated to secure grazing areas following the meeting between our Minister of Interior and Minister of Agriculture, with a view to re-uniting farmers and herders across the country,” he said.
The Commandant lamented that there were Boko Haram sympathizers amongst herdsmen aiding the insurgents, noting that the partnership between the NSCDC and herdsmen would help fish out bad eggs.
Abdullahi said: “You will recall that Boko Haram sometimes transported cows with the collaboration of some agents among herders to sell in the Maiduguri cattle market.
“Our investigation revealed that the insurgents usually send these cows to their agents in town, who will then sell them off and later transport consignment in form of cash, fuel and other consumables to Boko Haram terrorists.
“It is as a result of this that the command deems it fit to seek this collaboration, which would go a long way in fishing out criminals aiding terrorists amongst herdsmen.”
Abdullahi however said the main purpose of the partnership was to promote unity and peaceful coexistence between the farming communities and cattle owners in the state.
“As we are moving to the post-insurgency era, there is also a need to collaborate with all important stakeholders with a view to achieving lasting normalcy and peaceful coexistence among good people of the country,” he added
NAN.