Herdsmen have described as ‘unconstitutional’, the attempts to stop them from grazing their cattle in any part of the country, especially in the south.
The herdsmen, under the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, said the constitution guaranteed their movement into any part of the country.
Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Plateau State, Nuru Abdullahi, while speaking to Punch Newspapers, said: “It is their constitutional right to move freely as guaranteed by the laws of the land.”
“Why would they ask them not to go to the southern part of the country? What the various governments and security agencies should do is to prevent attacks and counter-attacks and such things that breed violence like cattle rustling and trespassing into farmlands.”
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of movement for every citizen of the country; this includes the right to live, work and carry out any legitimate activity in any part of the country. If and when you breach this freedom, then, the law should deal with you. So, asking anybody not to go to any part of the country is unconstitutional.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the Chairman, MCBAN, North-West Zone, Ardo Ahmadu Suleiman, said: “We are law abiding citizens of Nigeria. The constitution forbids anybody or group from banning anybody’s movement from one part of the country to another. We have been staying peacefully with tribes across the country for ages. Therefore, for anyone to say he wants to ban Fulani from entering their land is uncalled for.”
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