Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Asociation of Nigeria, on Tuesday, May 12th, 2020, said its members across the nation have lost more than N5billion to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

One of the stalwarts of the association, Alhaji Yakubu Bello, disclosed this while responding to the allegation that the Fulani community in Oyo State was hiding their kinsmen who sneaked into the state from the North amid the inter-state travel ban ordered by the Federal Government.

Bello, who once served as the chairman of the Miyetti Allah, said contrary to the allegation, the association’s members were peaceful and law-abiding citizens.

He stated that although the new normal occasioned by coronavirus pandemic was challenging as the association had never had such devastating experience in the past, efforts were made to ensure that the interstate travel ban was obeyed.

He said Fulani cow traders and herdsmen across the country had been warned to stay away from Oyo State, until the inter-state travel ban was relaxed.

According to Bello, the Miyetti Allah in Oyo State had cautioned its members from the North on the need to adhere to the restriction order.

He said,

We have heard of cases of people that were arrested for defying inter-state lockdown order, whether they were coming from the North or anywhere from Nigeria, but I can tell you that nothing of such has happened from here.

The moment the government announced the lockdown order, we have sent a strong warning to our people in all the states of the nation not to come to Oyo State for business or visit till this trying period is over.

It is really a difficult period for our people as they have never experienced such restriction before. I can tell you that we have lost over N5 billion to the rampaging Coronavirus disease.

This place used to be a beehive of commercial activities; people will come from all over the country to buy and sell. People sell not just cows and other livestock, but personal items and household materials here. It is now like a ghost town.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.