The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has strongly rejected its inclusion in a proposed United States sanctions list, describing allegations linking the group to religious persecution as false and misleading.
MACBAN Denies Allegations, Seeks Removal from US List
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, MACBAN President Baba Othman Ngelzarma revealed that the association has officially written to the United States Congress requesting the removal of its name from the draft list under US House Resolution 860.
"We reject these misleading and incomplete assertions. MACBAN is a lawful socio-cultural and economic association, not a militia or violent organization," Ngelzarma stated emphatically.
According to the MACBAN leader, the resolution fails to distinguish between criminal elements operating in rural areas and legitimate pastoralists, who he described as frequent victims of Nigeria's worsening insecurity crisis.
US Bill Proposes Tough Sanctions
The controversial US bill, sponsored by Congressman Christopher Smith, seeks to impose visa bans and asset freezes on individuals or organizations deemed responsible for severe violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act.
In a concerning development for the Nigerian group, MACBAN appears alongside Miyetti Allah Kautal H0re and so-called "Fulani-Ethnic Militias" in the same category as internationally recognized terrorist organizations including Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, the Taliban, and the Houthis.
If passed into law, the legislation would grant US authorities the power to apply targeted sanctions against persons linked to these groups.
Nigeria Designated "Country of Particular Concern"
The proposed sanctions come amid escalating tensions between Nigeria and the United States, following President Donald Trump's recent designation of Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" regarding religious freedom.
The Trump administration has reportedly directed US lawmakers to investigate alleged attacks on Christian communities across Nigeria, though the federal government has consistently rejected these allegations, maintaining that Nigeria's Constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all citizens.
MACBAN Highlights Peace-Building Track Record
In his defense of the organization, Ngelzarma pointed to MACBAN's extensive history of cooperation with security agencies and peace-building institutions both within Nigeria and internationally.
"MACBAN has, for decades, collaborated with the police, the armed forces, NSCDC, NIPSS, and state peace-building agencies. We have also worked with international bodies like USAID, Mercy Corps, Search for Common Ground, and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue," he stated.
The MACBAN president emphasized that these partnerships have significantly strengthened mediation efforts, early warning systems, and prevention of reprisal attacks in conflict-prone areas across Nigeria.
Pastoralists as Victims, Not Perpetrators
Ngelzarma presented startling statistics to support his argument that pastoralists are primarily victims of Nigeria's security challenges rather than perpetrators of violence.
He revealed that between 2015 and 2025, more than 18,600 pastoralists were killed, over 1.29 million displaced, 87,543 houses destroyed, and more than one million cattle rustled or killed across 17 Nigerian states.
"These figures show clearly that pastoralists are victims, not perpetrators. Even several of our state leaders were assassinated for assisting security agencies," Ngelzarma asserted.
Warning Against Worsening Insecurity
MACBAN issued a stern warning to the US Congress, cautioning that mischaracterizing pastoralists could seriously undermine ongoing peace-building efforts and potentially escalate tensions in rural Nigeria.
The group called for evidence-based engagement with local actors, better understanding of pastoral communities, and implementation of long-term interventions including:
- Establishment of grazing reserves
- Rangeland restoration programs
- Improved veterinary services
- Educational opportunities
- Conflict resolution programmes
"MACBAN does not support, condone, harbour, finance, or protect any form of criminality. Anyone involved in crime acts alone and must face justice," Ngelzarma declared.
He made a passionate appeal to the international community to recognize pastoralists as crucial contributors to Nigeria's food security rather than stigmatizing them based on the actions of criminal elements operating within rural communities.
Former Army Chief Questions US Motives
Adding another dimension to the controversy, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, suggested that the United States might be using the religious freedom issue as pretext for establishing a military base in Nigeria.
Dambazau shared his concerns during the seventh annual public lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria in Abuja, where he addressed the country's ongoing security challenges and international perceptions of Nigeria's internal conflicts.
The development marks a significant escalation in US-Nigeria relations and raises important questions about the characterization of pastoralist communities in international conflict analysis.
