State governors from the South-East region on Monday rejected the demand to establish Fulani vigilante in Igbo communities.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) had last week urged the five state governors from the geo-political zone to consider establishing a vigilante group made up of youths from Fulani extraction.
The demand sparked reactions from various socio-cultural groups and the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).
The governors made their stand known on Monday in a statement by Emmanuel Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, who heads the South-East Governors’ Forum.
Mr Uzor it was extremely strange for anybody to think that none locals in any part of the country including South East could be allowed to form vigilante outfit.
“South East Governors have their local vigilantes working with security agencies. Any such demand by Miyetti group is a joke and not acceptable. Governors of South East are doing their best and we have no problems receiving insults from our people. Is the price for leadership,” the statement partly read.
“The important thing to us is the safety and well-being of our people. OPC and other pressure groups may not have found it fashionable to be insulting their leaders even when their leaders may not be saints.
“Finally, no Miyetti vigilante in South East, no cattle ranch or colony but we must live peacefully with herdsmen that do not destroy our farm lands especially those that were born here and have lived peacefully with us. All South East governors are together in this position,” the statement added.
