Breaking: Miyetti Allah Reacts to US Terror Allegations, Issues Strong Warning
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has rejected allegations linking it to terrorism and mass violence, describing the claims as unfounded and harmful to its standing within Nigeria’s livestock sector.
National President of the association, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, spoke to PulseNets on Sunday while responding to debates surrounding a proposed United States legislation, H.R. 7457 — Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, currently before the U.S. Congress.
Ngelzarma told PulseNets that while the association recognises the sovereign right of the United States to deliberate on matters relating to religious freedom and human rights, it is concerned about narratives allegedly portraying MACBAN as a violent organisation.
He maintained that MACBAN is a legally registered body established in 1986 under Nigerian law and has operated transparently for decades with elected national, state and local leadership structures. Ngelzarma reported that the association is duly recognised by federal and state governments as a critical stakeholder in livestock development, pastoral welfare and conflict resolution initiatives.
The group warned, according to information obtained by PulseNets, that any move to blacklist or stigmatise legitimate organisations could result in economic setbacks, disrupt livestock trade flows and further marginalise pastoral communities that contribute significantly to Nigeria’s rural economy and agricultural value chain.
Reiterating its mandate, MACBAN reported that its core activities are centred on improving pastoral welfare, advancing modern livestock production systems, encouraging peaceful coexistence with host communities and supporting security agencies in conflict prevention strategies.
Ngelzarma told PulseNets that the association has never endorsed banditry, terrorism, kidnapping or cattle rustling, stressing that no court in Nigeria or abroad has indicted MACBAN as an organisation involved in terrorist activities. He argued that attributing the criminal conduct of individuals to a registered national body would be unjust and misleading.
MACBAN further reported that pastoralists have borne heavy losses due to insecurity, citing attacks by armed groups and bandits which have led to displacement, cattle rustling and fatalities among community leaders. The association claimed that at least eight of its state leaders were killed by criminal elements in 2025.
PulseNets learnt that MACBAN has engaged security agencies through intelligence sharing, mediation efforts and participation in technical committees focused on grazing reforms and livestock identification frameworks.
The association called on the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs and National Security to adopt a resolution clarifying the legislature’s position on what it described as misleading international narratives. It also urged the National Assembly to initiate parliamentary diplomacy with U.S. lawmakers.
MACBAN appealed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser, to commence diplomatic engagement with American authorities to present documentation of its lawful status and compliance with Nigerian regulatory frameworks.
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While cautioning against the general profiling of communities, the association urged both local and international media organisations to avoid sensational reporting capable of heightening tensions.
Reaffirming its commitment to national unity and peaceful coexistence, MACBAN told PulseNets that accountability must remain evidence-driven and warned against external measures that could, in its view, weaken legitimate Nigerian institutions.
