₦airaland Forum

Onenaira1:
The problem with you and everybody else is you guys are still falling on the lie that Omenka is from Benue. 1. A member on NL once posted an old comment of Omenka (I'm assuming when he's yet to know what state to attache by force to). In that comment, the mofo gave himself away...the entire comment suggested he's not from Benue and the only time he's been to Benue was when he was stationed there. I can't remember the poster who posted the comment but whoever it waa, can you PLEASE post it here or better yet open a topic of it so people can't stop confusing that Omenka monkey as Benue indigenous.

There is a reason why he NEVER EVER once shed a tear or even cared what happens to Benue under fulani but yet opened an epistle topic when the fulani were getting attacked by the media.
That omenka dude is 190% fulani...no doubt in my mind.

EroticAngelina:
looks like you just came here to attack good luck.

so your president didn't know all these when he was promising us heaven and earth

instead of ranting like a deranged lunatic on drugs, how about you start looking for a solution for your direction lacking life.

zombie.

EroBabe, is that you or am I dreaming?

When did you buy Wialers form?

Elchappo:
Nwanne Lie Mohammed..
U don't come to south yet u follow ur cows to enugu on foot..
Era of white Lies.

Enugu is North West

The man seems to be naturally an honest man but it also certain he's taken some private lessons from Egbon Lie Mohammed, aka the Devil's Advocate.

By Tony Nwankwo

Jubrin Yaya is Sultan, Shua Arabs, Lagos State. He operated as a herdsman for twelve years before now employing herdsmen himself. In this interview, the Maiduguri -born Shua Arab speaks on the danger armed herdsmen pose to society and what can be done to check the menace.

There is tension now in Nigeria as a result of the activities of cattle rearers in parts of the country. As a leader of your people, the Shua Arabs, what do you say?

The problem between cattle rearers and farmers, which was even rampant in the North, is well known to us. It is a matter that should be left to the government of the states and traditional rulers. We will ask that traditional rulers find a way to create a safe passage for cattle rearers and their cattle. That is my advise to Fulani cattle rearers, which I am part of, although I am Shua Arab. For our people of Shua Arab, our herdsmen operate in Borno, Yobe and Yola. We don’t bring our cattle for grazing in southern Nigeria. However, if we detect a fat cattle, we can send them for sale in the southern market. It is the Fulani cattle rearers that come to Yorubaland, Igbo land and even they go as far as Cotonou and even some parts of Ghana, to graze their cattle. The Shua Arab don’t come to the south of Nigeria, we operate in the North. So, I will advise the Fulani herdsmen who come to the South not to allow little children as herdsmen, they should ensure that only adults, mature men are entrusted with the task of taking the cattle for grazing. This is because if you send little boys to follow the cattle, instead of leading the cattle, they follow them, and may not know when the cows enter someone’s farms. The little boys can lead the cattle in the forest, but not on farmlands. Meanwhile, if they are grazing on planted fields, they should ensure that only experienced adults handle the cattle to ensure they don’t damage people’s crops. That is how we handle the cattle in Maiduguri. If the herd is grazing near the village, it is expected that experienced adults should handle them, but when they enter the forests, away from people’s farms, we allow children to graze the cattle.

You are saying there is a difference between Shua Arab herdsmen and Fulani herdsmen?


We are the same, but we differ in language and a little bit of customs. The cattle rearers are the same, the way they operate is the same way we operate. Don’t forget we also are farmers. That is the reason during our farming season, we don’t allow little boys to lead the cows, because there is also the possibility of small boys following the cows and so the cattle can stray into farms. It happens even in our own farms and we don’t accept it. Also farmers should be patient with cattle rearers, because if you produce guinea corn, maize, yam, etc, you need meat to enjoy the meals. They go hand-in-hand. Also you who own the cows, you can’t simply kill one and eat the meat from morning till night. So, cow meat and farm produce should go together.

You celebrated the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls last year. Then you confirmed you own cattle and you have herdsmen. Today, these herdsmen carry AK47 rifles. What is the purpose of these heavy weapons with which they commit atrocities: killing people, raping women, robbing people, etc?

It is very unfortunate for cattle rearers to carry weapons, talkless of heavy weapons like AK47. Herdsmen are not supposed to carry weapons, they carry sticks. If people see cattle rearers carrying weapons like AK47, they should report to the police or army, so they can be arrested, investigated and prosecuted. They should not carry weapons. I have a farm in Minna, Niger State, if I see cattle rearers there with AK47, I will call security agencies to arrest them. It should not be tolerated.

Who supplies these weapons?

I don’t know. It seems a very new development. In the past, cattle rearers only carried arrows, ada (machete) and sticks as they moved from forest to forest. That is all they were entitled to. They are not expected to carry guns. Those herdsmen who carry guns are thieves. People should check them. The police should arrest them and ask them how they acquired such sophisticated weapons. Security people should arrest their sponsors and ask them how they acquired the weapons. It is dangerous and they use these weapons to commit all kinds of crimes: murder, rape and armed robbery.

Now there are three bills before the National Assembly, seeking that state governments provide grazing land or ranches for these violent group. How far can these bills go?

If they pursue the matter successfully it will be good. You should understand that in the world now, there are few countries that still engage herdsmen. Only the countries of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun and Sudan that still have cattle rearers. In America, one man can have one million cows, but he provides them with grass under an enclosure. It is only in Africa that people follow cattle to graze from place to place. If you are moving from place to place and in the process start killing people, how can those people accept you to come back and graze in their land I, personally wouldn’t sanction that. If you come to my community and you carry arms and kill the people I will not allow you any further access, because you are dangerous.

So, what is your advise to members of the National Assembly (the Senate and Members of the House of Reps.) on these bills?

My advise to the Senators and Members of the House of Representatives is to try to get a grazing route for the cattle rearers. If there is no route where cattle can pass, it cannot be good, because they must go somewhere with these cattle. We should tell ourselves the truth, there is no way cattle cannot get rearers. But what we do condemn are those herdsmen who carry weapons and terrorise people. That is not good. Nowadays, if you go to Maiduguri and someone greets you, you say, ‘are you a Maiduguri man?’, the response you get is, ‘no, he is a Boko Haram’. It is very painful. It is the same thing they want to bring to the South by these irresponsible acts. To me, it is bad. I will never support cattle rearers to carry heavy weapons. I will want my fellow owners of cattle to do something about this. I am Sultan of Shua Arab, I will advise the Sariki of Fulani, so we can do something about it. Let him call his people together. If, for instance, I have a cow and I employ you as herdsman, if you follow my cow and I see that no cow is missing, none has been killed, and you the cattle rearer is coming home to my house with expensive clothes or cash, I should ask you how you got the money to buy the clothes or the money you are spending. I must ask you the question: “You are following my cows, you go and come back, my cows are intact, you never asked me for money for your further upkeep and tomorrow, you come home with N5,000, N10,000 or N50,000, I will ask how you got it”. My fellow leaders should be able to ask such questions to their cattle rearers. ‘My cows are intact, you are sleeping in my house, yet you are bringing such money in, I must ask you how you get it. I know that as far back as 1958, government was collecting taxes from us cattle rearers. Then I was in the bush. I was following cows. They were collecting 50 kobo for each cow. If you have 100 cows you multiply those by 50 kobo, the same if 10, you pay for those, if you had one, the same thing. Farmers were paying N1 for each person and N2 for husband and wife. Then there was no money as such, and there was little fuel.

There is this thinking by many people that the little stick carried by herdsmen has magical powers. Is this true?

(laughter) I have been a cattle rearer myself, and I can tell you there is no magic in the stick. I was a cattle rearer for 12 years. I will follow cattle from Maiduguri to Enugu on foot. From Minna to Ibadan, I did the journey with cattle. Then there was no trailers as you have them now, not many vehicles as they are today. We trek the whole distance. From Chad Republic, we buy cows and take them to Ibadan, all the journey on foot. We travel to Warri, Port Harcourt, sometimes you spend three to four months before you get to your destination. I followed cow from Ogbomosho to bring them to Ibadan.

You supported Buhari for President last year. What can say about the ‘change’ he promised Nigerians?

It is difficult to repair what has been damaged. By the time Buhari came to power, there was no security in Nigeria, no road, no hospitals, no money. Now he has managed to retrieve money from corrupt people. As at now, the Senators and Members of the House are not cooperating with him. See the Budget that was sent for more than three months, nothing has been done about it. He is supposed to sign it. Normally, whenever things like this happens, they are expected to meet with the President to plead with him to sign it into law. If there is anything they want to add in the Budget or remove from it, they should sit together to iron it out. The way they are operating, they are killing the country. He is President, he can give money for projects with or without the approval of these people, but he wants to follow the law. My advise however to Buhari is that he should cooperate with the National Assembly men so that the common man will not continue to suffer. I am only advising, I have no power like them, they are in government, but I am outside the government.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has warned that consumption of imported frozen poultry products may lead to cancer, kidney diseases and hypertension. Unfortunately, the warning has not deterred many Nigerians from consuming them.

According to a former NAFDAC Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, the risk in the products comes as a result of substances that can predispose one to kidney, liver and lung diseases as well as certain types of cancer and drug resistant bacterial infections among others. Medical experts believe that consumption of the products can be a silent-killer because they may not show symptoms before attacking.

Apart from the health implications of the products, the importation also impedes local poultry production as farmers have to contend with low market demand. Findings have shown that about 50 million Nigerians eat imported chicken, turkey and fishes almost on a daily basis.

According to a veterinary expert, Dr. Tito Adebanjo, the use of formalin, a chemical used to embalm corpses and other dangerous substances, to preserve the poultry products, is a cancer-causing chemical also capable of causing liver and kidney diseases.



“There is little or no mechanisms at our sea ports to screen or detect the residues of chemicals used in the frozen meat being imported to Nigeria, yet the foods find their way to our markets for consumption. Even the ones produced locally, no one really tests them, let alone find out the level of drug residues in them before they are sold to unsuspecting members of the public,” Adebanjo explained

He stated that the chemicals can be divided into two segments: Those added to animals’ feeds or injected into them and the preservatives used on the animals’ meat after they are slaughtered.

“Some of these chemicals can predispose one to cancer, hypertension or cause antibiotic resistance in man. The relentless drive to produce more animals by some farmers – abroad or locally – in less time at lower cost, is responsible for the routine and indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs in animal, including arsenicals, antibiotics, and other compounds,” the veterinary doctor, who specialises in food hygiene, food safety and zoonoses, added.

“The concern, therefore, besides the effects on the livestock industry, is the fact that many analogues of these antibiotics are used in disease management in humans and could consequently add to the development of cross-resistance to antimicrobials administered in human health.

“Though the fact that the public may not be aware of the magnitude of the health hazards resulting from consuming meat containing drug residue, that does not imply the adverse effects should not be of serious concern. What often happens is that the chemicals used in the preservation of these foods build up and serve as free agents in the body. Besides, they subsequently break the body down through one disease or another.

“Many a time, drug withdrawal periods are not observed or there is over-dosage or under-dosage of these chemicals when used by quacks. The drugs, therefore, accumulate in the meat obtained from such animals. Possible bioaccumulation occurs when these residues present in the animal tissues accumulate continuously over the lifespan of the individuals through prolonged consumption. This is of potential concern in Nigeria where animals’ meat constitutes a major source of animal protein.”

Similarly, the President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, who urged the Federal Government to curb the menace, noted that smuggled chicken is responsible for several health issues experienced in the country, “due to the presence of high level of bacteria in the chicken coupled with high toxic chemicals that are used to preserve it just to ensure it gets to our market at cheaper rates.”

Also, an investment analyst, Mr. John Ayodele explained that the fact that the foods are smuggled and massively consumed indicates that there is a wide gap in the local market that needs to be bridged.

According to him, that gap is not as a result of the inefficiency of poultry owners but due to lack of patronage on the part of consumers. “Operators have invested in slaughtering and de-feathering machinery, packaging and storage facilities as well as marketing strategies to convince Nigerians to patronise their safer and more nutritious products.

“This is a viable money making idea for Nigerians, especially the ones in Diaspora seeking viable businesses to set up in Nigeria. Home based Nigerians looking for what to do in retirement can also consider this business. The unemployed Nigerian graduate, who can put on his thinking cap, can also set up in this business, starting small,” he said.

Ayodele added that Nigeria has no business importing frozen poultry, which can easily be produced at home to provide employment and create wealth for her citizens. “If patronized, operators can reduce the unemployment rate by over two million in one month and that will just be the beginning in Nigeria,” he added.

Also, an economist, Dr. Olusola Owoeye, explained that Nigerian consumption is put at 1.5million tonnes, while production is estimated to be about 350,000mt tones, leaving a demand and supply gap of 1.2million tones, which is met through smuggling. He stated that to fully utilise the balance of the industry’s installed capacity of additional 350,000mt will translate to significant benefits through more job creation in form of 350,000 new jobs in maize production, 75,000 new jobs in processing and 500,000 new jobs in ancillary raw materials, products and services.

“Reducing smuggling by just 30 percent would result in the creation of about one million jobs. The future of the Nigerian poultry industry hinges delicately on firm decisions on the part of the policy makers to reverse the current unwholesome trends that tend to tilt the balance more in favour of smugglers while putting the local producers in jeopardy. The investments of local producers need urgent safeguard and support that would enable them to remain competitive in the face of smugglers onslaught,” he stated.

omenka:
You wey dey shame, wetin you dey find here at 3am?? Oh, oya tell me of time zone- tell me you are typing from "Amelika".

Call out your brethren let them come celebrate before the thread grows cold. Don't be shy.

iPod Yoots would see everything wrong in Omenka typing by 4am but won't see anything wrong with themselves or their fellow yoots like the one up above doing same.

#MorePathetic.

omenka:
Thank God I felt pressed at time...

All thanks yet again to vanguard for giving the iPod Yoots another wonderful news to celebrate. Watch how they invade this thread and dance their macabre dance all over the place at the break of dawn. The pomp would be out of this world as usual.

When a bomb goes off, when herdsmen kill, and when NDA strikes, they get instant erection and can't help wanking off till eternity.

Hope the people responsible for this are brought to justice and lasting peace return to the people of Buruku.

johnmartus:
fake doctor

Amanwulu1:
please what is d meaning of PMD in ur post? Let me guess "President Mohammadu President Buhari".

Lumiere91:
Meanwhile n-delta avengers can't even defend their kinsmen.na to hide and bomb pipe dem sabi.nigeria is d land of d selfish

Sweetlemon:
Oh shut up! Not every southerner against GEJ is Yoruba. Find a way of getting that into your hopelessly empty skull.

"Marketers were scared" my asss. And did you say that was the only time we had fuel scarcity under GEJ? Seriously!

double0seven:
something is not right about this

the herdsmen knows the whole attention of the country is already focused on them; why would they go ahead and do this

Could some satanic people under the guise of Fulani herdsmen want to cause problems for this country and this administration?

mordtonia:
I strongly believe these herdsmen are Bokoharam soldiers, posing as cattle rearers.

amaechi1:
Very unfortunate. But what about those kill during the Immigration recruitment scam. They took their money and they kill them. Please, add their picture too. Remember, to indicate who was in charge of Nigeria affairs at that time.

MaziOmenuko:
Daft write up

You didn't hurt a fly in your last bombing? Sure, your environment wasn't polluted! Daft!

The oil wells you listed wasn't awarded last week: GEJ was president for 6yrs, what did he do about the northenization of the oil wells?