The worsening insecurity challenge in Nigeria took a new twist on Sunday when the leadership of the Amalgamated Union of Food and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AFUCDN) gave to the Federal Government up until February 24 to address their demands or face total withdrawal of their services.
This was declared by Secretary-General of AFUCDN, Ahmed Alarama, who said members of the union were disturbed by the constant attacks on their members and properties across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
Alaramar cited as an example the crisis in, Shasha in Ibadan, Oyo State, that pitted the northerners there against the Yorubas, which he alleged led to the killing of some of their members and destruction of property.
According to the secretary, AFUCDN) had asked the Federal Government to broker an agreement between State governments and its members such “that henceforth if any violence of any nature erupts in that state and our members are attacked, we will not hesitate to immediately withdraw our services”.
“Based on the above, we are therefore giving the federal government of Nigeria seven days ultimatum from the date of receipt of an acknowledgment, within which to address the issues raised or we will have no option than to call our members on a nationwide strike,” he said.
Alarama warned that if nothing was done to address the challenges of the union’s members at the end of the ultimatum, they would be forced to stop the movement of their cattle and goods around the country.
“We have urged the government to intervene in order not to create a situation which will lead to chaos and breakdown of law and order. Our members have continued to suffer intimidation, frustration, humiliation, and destruction of their goods.
“Given the lack of safety of our members and their properties nationwide, the imposition of multiple taxations on the highways, despite our contribution to peace, progress, unity and economic growth of Nigeria, our members under the AUFUCDN demand that President Muhammadu Buhari revisits our demands and address the issues bedeviling us, including compensation for lives and properties lost,” he said.
