Gunmen kidnap 10 persons, 300 cows in Anambra

Gunmen have reportedly abducted 10 members of the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and 300 cows in Anambra State.

The gunmen were said to be demanding a ransom of N4million and a gun from the victims’ families.

The alarm was raised yesterday, by the South East Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Gidado Siddiki.

The incident according to Siddiki, happened at Obene Community, Ogbaru Local Government Area settlement of the herders around 1.30am yesterday.

The MACBAN chairman said the herders were attacked at their settlement while asleep and their animals forcefully taken away by the gunmen numbering about 40.

He said they invaded the area with sophisticated weapons; guns, cutlasses, sticks and charms.

According to him, the kidnappers had established contact with their victims’ families, demanding N4million and a gun as ransom.

“As I speak to you now, I have reported the incident to the Police and DSS for prompt action,” Siddiki said.

He appealed to the kidnappers to release his members and their cows, stressing that those kidnapped were mere hustlers.

He condemned the politicisation of the herdsmen and host communities’ conflict across the country.

He noted that the herdsmen were always accused of crime even in situations where they were the victims of attacks.

Siddiki cited instances where criminals disguised in herders’ attires, committed crimes in some states like Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Southern Kaduna and Anambra in order to give the herdsmen a bad name.

He blamed the face-off between herdsmen, farmers and host communities on lack of accurate communication by the concerned authorities.

According to Sidikki:”Most of the conflicts can be averted if dialogue and proper conflict management skills are established in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

He, however, commended the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, for initiating a peace and reconciliation committee to address the security challenges in the state and the Southeast region at large, with a view to achieving realistic solutions.

He reiterated that MACBAN under his watch in the Southeast and South-south regions would continue to preach unity and peace among Nigerians irrespective of tribal, ethnic and religious differences.

While confirming the report, the state Police Public Relations Officer , Ikenga Tochukwu, urged the leadership of Miyetti Allah in the state to come up with more information that would enable the Police to commence aggressive investigation into the matter.

According to the PRO,” yes, we are aware of the incident, but we want the Miyetti Allah leadership to supply us with more information since the kidnappers have established ransom contact with the victims’ families.”

He advised the Miyetti Allah leadership not to react, assuring them that the command under CP Echeng Echeng and other security agencies in the state would do everything possible to rescue the victims from their abductors.