US Report: ‘We Are Victims, Not Perpetrators’ – MACBAN Fires Back

US Report: ‘We Are Victims, Not Perpetrators’ – MACBAN Fires Back

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dismissed allegations tying the Fulani ethnic group to widespread militancy and banditry across the country, warning against the dangers of collective blame while insisting that pastoralist communities are themselves primary victims of insecurity . The association was responding to a recent report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) , which claimed that about 30,000 armed Fulani militants operate in various parts of Nigeria and contribute significantly to violations of religious freedom. The report described the militants as some of the deadliest non-state actors responsible for religious freedom violations in Nigeria .

MACBAN National President, Baba Ngelzarma , described the report’s estimate as misleading and unrepresentative of the broader Fulani population in Nigeria. He stressed that criminal elements should not be used to define an entire ethnic group. According to him, the individuals referenced in the report “do not, and will never, represent the 14.5 million peaceful Fulani citizens” in the country . Ngelzarma maintained that many Fulani pastoralists are themselves victims of insecurity , citing incidents of cattle rustling, kidnappings, and retaliatory attacks. “As MACBAN has stated in several reports and statements, law-abiding pastoralists are themselves primary victims of these criminal syndicates, routinely suffering from cattle rustling, mass abductions and retaliatory violence,” the statement read . He noted that law-abiding members of the community often bear the brunt of the violence perpetrated by criminal groups.

The association reiterated that it would neither shield nor excuse anyone involved in criminal acts , affirming its commitment to supporting security agencies in tackling insecurity nationwide. “MACBAN will not shield, make excuses for, or tolerate any individual or group engaging in violent criminality,” the association stated . MACBAN also disclosed that it has directed its state and zonal branches to strengthen intelligence-sharing with security agencies and traditional rulers to help identify and eliminate criminal elements operating within rural and border communities. “We are actively directing our zonal and state branches to formalise and deepen closed-door intelligence-sharing channels with federal security forces and local traditional rulers. We pledge our full cooperation to help law enforcement detect, isolate, and flush out criminal elements using our forests and borderlands as cover,” the association added.

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The association further condemned terrorism, banditry, and killings across the country , regardless of those responsible, while urging Nigerians to avoid ethnic profiling when addressing security challenges. It also denounced assaults on places of worship, including churches and mosques, stating that attacks carried out during religious services and holidays violate both religious principles and Nigeria’s constitutional order . The group warned that generalising criminal activities to an entire ethnic group could heighten tensions and undermine efforts to restore peace. “Criminality has no religion, and it has no ethnicity,” the statement said .

This latest reaction follows earlier efforts by MACBAN to counter similar allegations. In November 2025, the association formally wrote to the United States Congress , through the American embassy in Abuja, seeking the removal of its name from a proposed sanctions list under US House Resolution 860 , which targeted entities accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria . The bill had listed MACBAN, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” alongside globally sanctioned groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, the Taliban, and the Houthis . At a press conference then, Ngelzarma dismissed what he described as “misleading and incomplete assertions” contained in the resolution, insisting that MACBAN is a lawful socio-cultural and economic association , registered by the Federal Government in 1986, and not a militia or violent organisation . He noted that for over four decades, the association has operated openly with national, state, and local structures and executives democratically elected every four years. He cited partnerships with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Armed Forces, NSCDC, NIPSS, state peace-building agencies, traditional rulers, as well as international organisations, including USAID, Mercy Corps, Search for Common Ground, and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue .

Ngelzarma also highlighted the heavy losses suffered by pastoralists , stating that verified records between 2015 and 2025 show that over 18,600 pastoralists were killed, more than 1.29 million displaced, 87,543 houses destroyed, and over one million cattle rustled or killed in 17 states . He added that several of MACBAN’s state chairmen and executives were assassinated for cooperating with security agencies, stressing that these incidents underscore the community’s vulnerability rather than any involvement in violence. “These tragedies show we are victims of insecurity, not perpetrators,” he said . More recently, MACBAN has continued to report attacks on pastoralist communities. On Thursday, May 21, 2026 , nine pastoralists, including babies, children, and women, were killed during an armed attack on Ika Achelle village in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State . Attackers also burned homes and stole over 200 cattle during the raid. MACBAN’s Kogi State secretary, Suleiman Muhammed, condemned the killings as unacceptable and called for a full investigation .

Additionally, MACBAN called on the government and development partners to invest in reforms within the livestock sector , particularly the promotion of ranching , as a long-term solution to conflicts associated with open grazing. The association has previously expressed support for the creation of a Federal Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to holistically address issues across the entire livestock value chain, including production, processing, marketing, and security-related concerns . It added that achieving lasting peace would require a combination of justice, dialogue, enhanced security collaboration, and economic reforms targeting the root causes of violence.

US Report: ‘We Are Victims, Not Perpetrators’ – MACBAN Fires Back