Miyetti Allah denies terror links, seeks FG intervention over US sanctions bill

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has denied any involvement in banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, or cattle rustling, distancing itself from allegations contained in a proposed bill before the United States Congress.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, MACBAN National President Alhaja Baba Ngelzarma rejected claims linking the association to violent activities, describing them as false and damaging to its reputation.

The reaction follows the introduction of the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026” (H.R. 7457) in the US House of Representatives by lawmakers including Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, and Bill Huizenga.

The bill recommends visa bans and asset freezes against individuals and groups accused of religious freedom violations, listing MACBAN among the entities that could face sanctions.

Quoting the proposed legislation, Ngelzarma noted that the measure seeks targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act against suspected offenders, including MACBAN and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He, however, stressed that no court in Nigeria or abroad has ever indicted or convicted the association of criminal or terrorist acts.

“While we respect the sovereign right of the United States to deliberate on human rights issues, we strongly reject narratives that associate MACBAN with terrorism,” he said. “Such insinuations are unfounded and injurious to the integrity of our organisation.”

Ngelzarma explained that MACBAN, established in 1986, is a legally registered body operating nationwide with elected executives at national, state, and local levels. He added that the group works with government authorities on livestock development, pastoral welfare, and conflict resolution, while contributing to Nigeria’s food supply and rural economy.

He warned that blacklisting legitimate organisations could lead to economic setbacks, trade disruptions, and the further marginalisation of pastoral communities.

According to him, pastoralists have also been victims of insecurity, citing cattle rustling, displacement, and killings by armed groups. He disclosed that at least eight state leaders of the association were killed in 2025 alone.

“These incidents show we are victims, not perpetrators, of violence,” he said.

The MACBAN president called on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs and National Security, to intervene diplomatically and correct what he described as a misleading characterisation of the association.

He also urged Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the National Security Adviser to engage US authorities through diplomatic channels to prevent sanctions based on what he termed inaccurate claims.

Ngelzarma further appealed to the media to avoid stereotyping pastoral communities, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges require balanced and factual reporting.

He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, national unity, and cooperation with security agencies.