The Berom Youth-Moulders Association (BYM) claimed that the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) had discovered a Fulani organization scheme to protect a detained suspect from further attack. In response, the MACBAN issued a statement.
Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, national president of the BYM, made the accusation in a statement released on Thursday claiming the organization had uncovered MACBAN’s plot to protect the suspect by obtaining a doctor’s note that falsely claimed the suspect suffers from mental instability.
According to Mwantiri’s statement, the BYM has received credible information from a very reliable source that suggests MACBAN was working on the plan and desperately trying to get a fake medical certificate that says the suspect arrested for the attack is mentally retarded and that security personnel shouldn’t trust his confessions.
The Fulani umbrella group, however, issued a rebuttal statement on Friday in which it denied the claims, calling them “deliberate attempt to incite tension and misinform the public.” The group also claimed that the claims were unfounded and deceptive.
The State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, released a statement in which the group was aback by the BYM’s accusations and pondered how they could have come from a group known for advocating for harmony and tranquillity.
“The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has recently published allegations involving an alleged plot to protect a suspect connected to the tragic event in Heipang, and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Plateau State branch, has taken note of these claims.
It is our firm belief that these accusations are completely without merit, intended to sow discord and mislead the general public. In Plateau State and beyond, MACBAN is a law-abiding group that is dedicated to peace, justice, and the rule of law.
No action to thwart the administration of justice or to protect criminals has ever been taken by MACBAN, and the organization does not condone such behaviour. We are firm believers that all individuals, regardless of their race, religion, or political party, should be subject to the full force of the law when proven guilty of violent or criminal acts.
Plateau State has been severely impacted by cycles of distrust and disinformation, and this must be stressed. Such statements from BYM do nothing but escalate tensions and derail communities’ attempts to achieve peace.
So, we’re urging the Berom Youth Moulders Association to stop making unfounded accusations and start working with other groups to bring Plateau State closer together through communication and peaceful coexistence.
MACBAN is reiterating its dedication to collaborating with government officials, community leaders, and security services to establish and maintain peace and stability.
The people should ignore these baseless claims and keep their cool; the security services are more than capable of conducting thorough and impartial investigations. “Let us stand united in our commitment to valuing truth over speculation and peace over provocation,” the declaration states.