The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has debunked the rumour making the rounds in the media that the Federal Government plans to pay Miyetti Allah about N100 billion to persuade the cattle rearers to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in the country.
BMO, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, described it as a lie that has no basis in fact and reality, and therefore should be totally disregarded by Nigerians.
“The public need be informed that this rumour is the handiwork of mischief makers who are bent on casting the Federal Government in bad light.
“Firstly, the meeting referred to was in response to the conference of ECOWAS sub-regional body where security challenges afflicting the region were discussed, and part of the dialogue was to provide a national action plan and solutions by all member states of ECOWAS.
“It was on the basis of this initiative that the Minister of Interior, Dr. Abdulrahman Dambazzau led a team of service chiefs to a meeting with Miyetti Allah in Kebbi state. The meeting was also used to harp on the need to remove the criminal elements that have infiltrated the Miyetti Allah association”.
According to BMO, at no time was the issue of paying the association any amount of money was raised or discussed as being reported or speculated in certain quarters.
“We want to restate that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is a responsible and responsive government that would not deviate from its avowed commitment to due process, rule of law and fiscal responsibility.
“We want to restate that the purported payment of N100billion to the Miyetti Allah is the figment of the imagination of the originators and purveyors of the fake news, and has no iota of truth”, the group added.