The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has made an appeal to President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress, demanding that the group be removed from any listings linking it to terrorism or extremist activities in Nigeria.
At a press conference in Abuja, MACBAN President Baba Othman Ngelzarma said the association is a peaceful, socio-cultural, and economic organisation committed to national development and conflict resolution.
“MACBAN is not, has never been, and will never be an armed, extremist, religious, or political movement. We are a legally registered livestock producers’ association operating under Nigerian law,” Ngelzarma said.
He explained that the name “Miyetti Allah” means “We thank God” in Fulfulde, reflecting values of gratitude, humility, and peaceful coexistence, which MACBAN has upheld for over 40 years.
The association stressed that pastoralists are often the biggest victims of violence, not the perpetrators. According to MACBAN data, between 2015 and 2025 over 18,640 pastoralists were killed, more than 1.29 million displaced, 87,543 homes destroyed, and over 1.1 million cattle stolen or killed.
Several MACBAN officials have also been targeted, including Alh. Mohammed Hussaini, Suraio Mairana, Idris Abubakar, Alh. Shuaibu Suleiman, Alh. Bello Gegu, and Alh. Ibrahim Abubakar Jalido. Two senior officials, Muhammad Adamu and Eng. Munnir Atiku Lamido, have been missing since June 2023.
Ngelzarma slammed the portrayal of MACBAN as extremists, saying criminals posing as pastoralists should not be used to criminalise the entire ethnic or occupational group.
He called on the U.S. to adopt evidence-based policies and support long-term solutions like grazing reserves, rangeland restoration, and improved services for pastoral communities.
He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to national unity, security cooperation, non-violence, and peaceful coexistence.
