Shocking U.S. resolution targets Miyetti Allah, group fires back

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has denied claims that it is linked to attacks on Christians in the country, saying its main goal is to protect herders’ interests.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, MACBAN National President Baba Othman Ngenzarma said the group includes people from all ethnicities and religions.

“In our organization, no religion or ethnic group is excluded. We have Hausas, Yorubas, Igbos, and followers of both Islam and Christianity,” he said.

Last month, the United States said MACBAN was under review for possible sanctions over alleged attacks on Christians. Baba Othman said he was surprised by the listing. “We do not carry weapons, and we have never sponsored any attacks. The government has never charged us with a crime,” he added.

U.S. lawmakers Riley Moore and Chris Smith recently presented a resolution citing a report that said Christians in Nigeria “have long faced discrimination and violence.” The resolution called for sanctions on MACBAN and other groups, including travel bans and freezing assets.

Baba Othman said the actions of a few individuals should not define the entire organization.

“You may find wrongdoers among police officers or soldiers, but that does not mean the whole institution is corrupt,” he said. He noted that MACBAN is just one of many herders’ associations, and not all herders or Fulani people are members.

He also explained that MACBAN works with Nigerian security agencies and foreign missions to show evidence of cooperation. “We shared detailed information about members killed due to security challenges, including names, dates, and photos,” he said.

According to Baba Othman, conflicts involving herders in Nigeria are mainly about land, not religion or ethnicity. “Disputes arise over land use, not faith or tribe,” he said, adding that desertification and competition for farmland are the main causes of these conflicts.