In an interview with Arise TV, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, clarified a common misconception about the ownership of cattle in the country. Contrary to popular belief, the emaciated herdsmen seen tending to their cows are actually the true owners of the livestock, having inherited them from their parents.
According to Othman-Ngelzarma, these herdsmen make up 95% of cattle owners in Nigeria, while city-based elites own only a mere 5%. This revelation sheds light on the often-misunderstood relationship between herdsmen and their cattle, highlighting the importance of recognising the true stakeholders in the industry.
According to him, “That is part of the public misconception. Those guys that you see looking hungry and emaciated, moving with those cows—those cows belong to them. They gave them through inheritance; when the parents die, they inherit. They continue to look after them over the years until the cows multiply into the numbers that you see. So, the cows belong to them; they’re the 95% owners of the cows in the country. The cow doesn’t belong to the big men in the cities; the big men have, but not up to 5%.’..……..See More
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