By Muhammad Tanko Shittu
Jos
The Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in Plateau state, has accused some section of the media of ‘bias” and “complicity,” reportage against its members.
The state Police command had also said the police headquarters had donated a helicopter to carry out air surveillance in the area.
State chapter chairman of the Association, Malam Nura Abdullahi, made the accusation during a press conference yesterday on the recent killings in the state.
He said that they were, “dismayed over the killings and beheading of six (6) innocent Fulani cattle rearers on Sunday October 15 by the Irigwe militia in Kuri village of bassa local government area of Plateau state.
” He expressed that it was unfortunate for the sections of the media not reporting on the killings of their people, but went further to allege that it was headers that did attack and killed the Irigwe people, even when no arrest was made.
“We also observed the inbalance in reporting the incident by the media, where they neglected and refused to interview or contact the Fulani community to capture the killings of the six (6) deceased, 40 sheep and 9 cows macheted to death and the 232 rustled cows by the Irigwe militia,” he alleged.
He said the unfortunate incident was immediately reported to the Divisional Police Offi cer (DPO) Bassa local government area and Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Sector 6, who visited the scene and confirmed the dead and burial.
“MACBAN Plateau state chapter wholeheartedly condemned the killings of all innocent lives, destruction of properties and rustling of Fulani cows,” he said.
According to him the headers are peace loving people, calling on Plateau state Government and security operatives to investigate, fetch out the killers and take necessary action that will stop future re-occurrence.
The Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Tyopev Terna, yesterday evening told journalists that; “the police headquarters has donated a helicopter to carry out air surveillance in the area.
“And the Police Commissioner has posted three units of Mobile Police force to intensify patrol and to make sure that attacks on the area are not carried out,” he added.
He stressed that investigation was ongoing; to make sure that the perpetrators of the act were brought to book.
