The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Sunday denied any involvement in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, or cattle rustling, warning that false associations could harm Nigeria’s economy and international reputation.
National President Baba Ngelzarma spoke at a press conference in Abuja addressing the proposed U.S. legislation ‘H.R. 7457 – Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,’ before the United States Congress. He said no Nigerian or foreign court had ever indicted or convicted MACBAN of criminal or terrorist activity.
“While we respect the sovereign right of the United States to consider human rights legislation, linking MACBAN with terrorism is false, unfounded and injurious,” Ngelzarma said. He noted that MACBAN, founded in 1986, is a legally registered national association with democratically elected executives at federal, state, and local levels.
He said the association is recognized by federal and state governments as a stakeholder in livestock development, pastoral welfare, and conflict mediation, with members contributing significantly to Nigeria’s protein supply and rural economy.
Ngelzarma warned that international blacklisting of legitimate actors could disrupt trade, cause economic losses, and further marginalize vulnerable communities. He stressed that pastoralists themselves face violence, citing the deaths of eight state leaders in 2025 due to criminal attacks, underscoring that MACBAN members are victims, not perpetrators.
He appealed to Nigeria’s Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs and on National Security to correct mischaracterisations and urged parliamentary diplomatic channels to engage the U.S. Congress constructively. He also called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser to initiate urgent diplomatic discussions to prevent counterterrorism cooperation from being based on “false equivalences.”
Ngelzarma cautioned against sensational or stereotype-driven media coverage, stressing that complex security challenges require nuanced reporting rather than profiling entire communities.
“MACBAN remains committed to national unity, constitutional order, peaceful coexistence, livestock modernization, and cooperation with security agencies,” he said, calling for balanced domestic and international narratives that respect Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks.
The press briefing highlighted MACBAN’s efforts to safeguard its reputation and press for diplomatic intervention in the wake of foreign legislative actions perceived as unfairly targeting Nigerian pastoralist institutions.