We will not sell our birth right to herdsmen – Ighala people

The Igala socio-cultural group, Uk’Omu Igala organisation, has warned the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello not to donate any land from the state for the proposed cattle colonies.

The group in a press release yesterday, highlighted instances of Fulani herdsmen attacks on innocent farmers to support its rejection of the planned cattle colonies in the state.

The Igala socio-cultural group, Uk’Omu Igala organisation, has warned the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello not to donate any land from the state for the proposed cattle colonies.

The group in a press release yesterday, highlighted instances of Fulani herdsmen attacks on innocent farmers to support its rejection of the planned cattle colonies in the state.

The Uk’Omu Igala Organisation, in an open letter signed by its National leader, Major General Patrick Akpa (rtd) and National Secretary, Malam Ahmed Hussain and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, stated that the planned cattle colony in Kogi East Senatorial District would be incompatible with the agricultural activities of the Igala people.

“When unarmed farmers attempt to call the herders to order, the latter, who are usually armed with dangerous weapons, have them [farmers] butchered or mauled in cold blood.”

“Selling our heritage and birth right to fuel his [governor’s] political ambition, the decision of Governor Yahaya to grant indigene ship to Fulani in Kogi State and compel the traditional councils to include Fulani herders as members of the councils.”

“We have several other ethnic communities from other parts of Nigeria living and doing businesses in Kogi State for decades. Why is the governor making a special deal for cattle herders in Kogi State?”

“They [administrators] are not, in any way, elected representatives of the people of Kogi State. They are lackeys of Governor Yahaya Bello. We call on the Presidency, all Nigerians and the good people of Kogi State to disregard the ill-informed and self-serving advertorial by Kogi ALGON on this subject-matter.”

Uk’Omu Igala Organisation, however, called on President Buhari to reciprocate the support of the Igala nation to his government by citing Federal Government projects in Kogi East Senatorial District.