Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has commended the Anambra government for its role in the rescue of 11 abducted herders and their cows.

South-East Zonal Chairman of MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, gave the commendation in an interview in Enugu on Friday.

The herders were reportedly abducted by hoodlums a fortnight ago in their settlement in Obene community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state, with over 300 cows reportedly missing in the process.

However, 10 of the abducted herders were recently found and many cows recovered by a search party compromising joint security agencies.

The MACBAN zonal chairman said that the Obene incident was one of the many instances of attacks on herders by hoodlums at different locations in the state.

He, however, expressed happiness with what he called the swiftness of the rescue of the abducted herders and the role played by the state government.

Mr Siddiki said that they were hopeful that the remaining person and cows would be rescued in good health.

He said that the association was not unmindful of the pride of place given to security and safety of lives and property by the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration.

Mr Siddiki, however, appealed to the state government to further deploy more creative measures in stemming the tension between herders and members of their host communities in some parts of the state.

“We pledge our unalloyed support to the governor, knowing full well that without a safe and secure environment, our business is bound to suffer serious losses.

“We believe that the governor’s zero tolerance for criminality will provide adequate protection for herders, as long as they remain law-abiding while plying their legitimate trade,” he said.

(NAN)