Chairman MACBAN Plateau Accuses Lt Col. Obi, And His Personnel Over Alleged Cattle Rustling, Harassment, Intimation, Threats And Oppressions Of Fulani Community Members In Mangu

The chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Plateau State branch, Muhammad Nuru Abdullah, has written a petition to the general officer commanding the 3rd Amoured Division,(GOC)  And the Commander Operation Safe Haven, Jos against Lt Col. Obi the Commander of Forward Operation Base in Mangu and his personnel over alleged  Cattle Rustling, harassment, intimation, threats and oppressions Of Fulani community members in Mangu.

The petition also signed by Suleiman Adamu, member MACBAN Mangu,  Atiku Jibrin, Elder MACBAN Pushit District Mangu LGA, and  Khalid Taru Youth Wing Pushit district, Mangu LGA stated thus; “We, in strong terms, condemn in totality this we describes as barbaric, misconduct, irresponsible, lawless, invitation to anarchy and a despicable activities of the officers. The officers are a mirror of a respected institution of state, whom are supposed to symbolized unity, discipline, rule of law and orders. This officers has shown that, they are a lawless officers who has no respect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to bring public opprobrium and ignominy to the good image and integrity of the Nigeria military force as long as they remains in service.”

See Full Petition Below:

The General Officer Commanding 3rd Amoured Division,(GOC)

And the Commander,

Operation Safe Heaven (Opsh), Jos.

Dear Sir,

PETITION AGAINST LT COL OBI COMMANDER OF FORWARD OPERATION BASE  (FOB) MANGU AND HIS PERSONNELS OF CATTLE RUSTLING, HARASSMENT, INTIMATION, THREATS AND OPPRESSIONS OF FULANI COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MANGU LGA.

We are push to the wall, we are subjected to hardships, molestation, discrimination devilish treatment, Sir infact we are stressed and stretch beyond elasticity. Therefore, we want to boldly announce to you that, we suffered from an unnecessary fatigues and tensions that we can no longer bear.

We are equally baffled with the activities of these military officers that, are saddle with the responsibility of enforcing law and order but, are now resorting to highest atrocities that includes; cattle rustling, harassing, intimidating, threatening, oppressing, mischief making, devilry treatment, and hooliganism of the innocence and peace loving Fulani people just to satisfy their dictators.

We, at this point want to formally and officially inform you of the atrocities of the military officers in the field in the name of peace keeping. We also want to draw your attention to the mischievous, barbaric, unprofessional, provocative, illegal and hooliganism approach to continue creating havoc and a criminal offence that includes killings and destruction of Innocent people’s properties, injured, iligal arrest, torture and extortion.

We, in strong terms, condemn in totality this we describes as barbaric, misconduct, irresponsible, lawless, invitation to anarchy and a despicable activities of the officers. The officers are a mirror of a respected institution of state, whom are supposed to symbolized unity, discipline, rule of law and orders. This officers has shown that, they are a lawless officers who has no respect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to bring public opprobrium and ignominy to the good image and integrity of the Nigeria military force as long as they remains in service.

The Nigeria military, serving under OPSH by the law establishing it, is charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order through enforcement of the laws. The right to loot peoples property is an insult to the entire command,. Constitutionally it’s a malicious activity and can create bad images to the well-being of this country.

It is unconstitutional criminal of the military or any person or organization to brutally seized another person’s property under duress, by any guess.

At this juncture, we want to enumerate some few issues as a case study.

1) On 22/9/2024 while rearing his cows around Tilimpat village, Sale Jibrin, observed that, some military personnel station in the village storm the rearing area shooting sporadic for reason yet to be known. As a result he Sale Jibrin sustain major bullet wounds in his left leg and right hand. He is now receiving treatment in Bauchi Teaching Hospital (BTH) Bauchi.

 2) On 25/6/2024, 136 cows and 17 sheep belonging to Abdullah Muhammad, Yakubu Adamu and other members of their families were siezed by the military officers for no iota of reason. While the cows were rearing “we just see military officers approaching, we though they are on normal surveillance but, immediately they arrival they started shooting sporadic. We were running healter skelta for our lives. The officers move our cows and lodge them into their operational camp for reason yet to be known”. On 27/6/24, they released to us 98 cows and 13 sheep, while withholds 38 cows and 4 sheep. All efforts to recover the remaining cows proved abortive.

3, Another atrocity exhibited by the military officers in the areas, include mounting of iligal roads blocks. The target of such roads blocks is to arrest and forcefully taken over any fairly used motorcycle belongings to Fulani. After taking such to his command, some of the motorcycle were being repainted with army green or desert colors and are being used by his officers. We have seeing some being used by the officers, from a reliable sources reviled that, others were moved inside trucks to an unknown destination. (Five receipt of such items were attached as exhibits1).

4,  On 26/9/2024 Lt col Obi lead military officers and cordon Fulani refugee’s camp at Washina in Ganaret ward of Maraban pushit district. The officers destroyed all our tent, camps and destroyed all our belongings that, including food items, households properties and kitchen utensils. Sir at this point for us to make the story flows correctly, it’s a known fact that, some time around match, soldiers and Mwagavul militia groups storm Fulani residence at Tilimpat village of Maraban pushit district “while soldiers were shooting at us, we were running, the Mwagavuls are busy burning our house and has destroyed all our belongings. Therefore, we were forced to relocate to Ganaret in the same Maraban pushit district and now the officer want us to leave the area. We want to draw your attention that we are not moving an inc any more”. (pictures attached as exhibits 2)  In the light of the above the military officers barricade rearing areas and animals drinking points at madel, Lamour and Golsayge rivers. All the grazing fields around those general areas were also barricaded and stopped any rearing activities. They usually arrest, any one who tries to violet the barricade. Therefore, we don’t have any grass and water to feed our animals.

5) On 17/8/2023 military officers station at Tilimpat village storm grazing fields shooting sporadic “while we were running helter skelter for our lives and aboundont the cows, 38 cows were siezed by the military officers. The cows belonging to Salihu Muhammad were moved towards Maraban pushit and were handed over to a notorious cattle rustler known as Ma”an Yomilo and were moved towards Bwompe village”. When contacted the commander claimed is working to recover the cows but yet no single recovery was made by the military officer.

6) The commander while briefing us in his headquarters claim to arrest all our leaders and will charge them with different allegations and atrocities, “which I will make sure you suffer for the rest of your life”. Therefore, the commander have started actualizing his dream by arresting Husaini Muhammad. “On Tuesday 1/10/24 after inviting us for a meeting Hussain Muhammad was arrested and detained. for no reason whatsoever. From the inhouse information reaching us is that more arrest of our leaders is coming up and also made it bold that he will label us with criminal atrocities in such a way we will never get ourselves. Therefore we are in sorrow and afraid of what will happen, very sure the aggressive officer can even kill”.

7) On 18/10/2023, 74 cows belongings to Alh Hudu Adamu of Kempus village, Mangu LGA were armed Robbed by some assailance wearing military uniform. The cows were armed Robbed at gun point while rearing around Kempus village at about 5:30pm. Sources revils that, the cows were moved towards Boi village that evening and subsequently, moved to Kombun village in the night. After intensify efforts about twenty four (24) calfs were found aboundont around  Kombun village. All efforts to recover the remaining 50 bulls belongings to Alh Hudu Adamu proved abortive. The activity of Sunday Dankaka and one Sergeant Bala baffled us. They collected the sum of one hundred thousand naira (#100,000.00) through sergeant Bala and assured us that, they will work tirelessly to recovered the remaining 50 big cows. We also pay another one hundred and twenty thousand naira (120,000:00 to the same sergeant Bala for their fueling of vehicle and motorcycles). Unfortunately, after paying the money the story continue changing. The unfortunate thing is that no single recovery was made.

Therefore, in the light of the above we PRAY the following:

1. We solicit for the immediate investigation of the matter. We request for the reposting of the Lt col Obi from FOB Mangu for the free flow of investigation. We want to inform you that we Lost total confidence in him because he can do and undo. We also solicit that all iligal and selective operation shall be discouraged in the field.

2. All victims of the poor operation and those who have been wounded in one way or the other shall be invited to volunteerily issue out their grievances through issuing statements.

3. The investigation shall include all other violators of the constitution through conspiring to eliminates the cows, and other valuables either civilians or other security personnel.

4. We made a Clarion call to immediately recovered the cows and other valuables and hand them over to their owners. In the event they are not recovered a proper compansation shall be paid to the victims to ease their suffering.

5. Immediate re-orientation of men and officers of the Nigeria military in line with global best practices of the security, could be organized to especially the officers who might have been contaminated by such dubious characters.

6. Immediate and unreserved apology be issued to the owners and victims, in which the statement shall condemned such assault and hooliganism on their sensibilities by the Nigeria Military Force.

7. Finally, we solicit for the mmediate withdrawal of the unconstitutional and illegal barricade that, prevents cows normal grazing in the open fields and the GOC shall take charge with kin interest in the area.

Thanks you so much for your usual cooperation, understanding and support.

Yours faithfully

Sign

Suleiman Adamu.         Atiku Jibrin.         Khalid Taru

Member MACBAN.        Elder MACBAN.      Youth Wing

Mangu LGA              Pushit district        Pushit district

                        Mangu LGA.          Mangu LGA

Muhammad Nuru Abdullah

Chairman MACBAN

Plateau State

Cc:

* National Security Adviser (NSA)

* Hon Minister of Defense

* Chief of Defense Staff

* Chief of Army Staff

* Chairman Senet Committee On Security.

 For your information, perusals, necessary action, and intervention, for this will help in dosing tempers down and encourage peace and stability in the areas.