Miyetti-Allah rejects terrorism allegation, faults reported US sanctions move

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dismissed reports suggesting that lawmakers in the United States are considering sanctions against the group, insisting that it remains a peaceful and law-abiding body.

National President of the association, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, made the position known during an interview with Trust TV. He said there was no basis for the U.S. Congress to contemplate branding the umbrella body of herders as a terrorist organisation.

Ngelzarma expressed surprise over the development. He disclosed that leaders of the association had previously held engagements with officials of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.

“We received the news with the greatest shock because we don’t know what the association has done to deserve such a sanction,” he said.

He explained that MACBAN was founded 42 years ago as a trade association. According to him, the body was established as a non-violent and non-religious platform to defend the interests of cattle breeders nationwide, regardless of ethnic or religious identity.

“It is a producer association created to protect the interests of cattle breeders. It is the only democratic pastoralist group we have in the country because its leadership emerges through elections,” he said.

The MACBAN president insisted that the association does not bear arms and has no link with criminal activities.

“This is an association that has never taken responsibility for any crime, has never supported criminality and is not cooperating with any group of criminals,” he stated.

He added that the organisation has maintained collaboration with security agencies in efforts to tackle crime. He noted that the partnership has come at a cost, as some of its leaders lost their lives in the process.

“As a result of this cooperation, many leaders of the association have lost their lives. So, we are really surprised that this association is still being considered for sanction,” he said.

Ngelzarma further stressed that MACBAN operates openly. He said the association runs offices across the 36 states and in local government areas, functioning within legal frameworks.

“We work with the Nigerian government at the state, local and federal levels. We also collaborate with all security agencies,” he added.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to safeguard members of the association from what he described as an existential threat.