Cattle dealers threaten nationwide strike

A cattle rustler

The Amalgamated Union of National Cattle and Foodstuff Dealers Association of Nigeria has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over alleged extortion by security agents across the country.

The Acting National Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Hamman-Jalo Hamman-Jam, said in Mubi, Adamawa, on Thursday, that the union was tired of the situation.

According to him, members of the union were made to part with money at various security check points on major federal highways especially from the northern to eastern part of the country.

He claimed that security agents forcefully stop any truck conveying cattle from the North to the East and demand huge amount of money for unknown purposes.

“We have complained to appropriate authorities concerned over the high level of extortion of money from our members by security agents.

“Again, we, the Amalgamated Union of National Cattle and Foodstuff Dealers Association of Nigeria, hereby, call on the Federal, state governments, and other authorities concerned to urgently look into the matter and address it.

“And if the situation continues without any action from government, the union have no other choice rather to embark on indefinite strike,” Hamman-Jam said.

The chairman claimed that the dealers were made to part with between N250, 000 to N300, 000 per truck on every trip.

Hamman-Jam, who is also the North East Zonal Coordinator of the union, asserted that those who tried to resist payment of the illegal charges were often maltreated by the security agents.

The chairman stressed that the union would continue to support security operatives in maintaining peace and protecting lives and property in the country, but would not allow the extortion of its members to continue.