The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has rejected any attempt to associate the wider Fulani population with criminality, insisting that armed groups and bandits operating across the country do not represent the millions of law-abiding Fulani citizens in Nigeria.
This position comes in reaction to a recent report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which estimated that about 30,000 armed Fulani militants operate in different parts of Nigeria in loosely organised groups ranging from small units to larger formations.
The report further alleged that these armed groups have become some of the most dangerous non-state actors contributing to violations of religious freedom in the country.
However, in a statement issued on Friday, MACBAN’s National President, Baba Ngelzarma, strongly rejected any link between such groups and the wider Fulani community, which he said numbers about 14.5 million people across Nigeria.
He stressed that peaceful pastoralists are not only uninvolved in criminal activities but are also among the biggest victims of insecurity, including cattle rustling, kidnappings, and reprisal attacks.
According to him, “the estimated 30,000 active militants and bandits cited in the USCIRF brief do not, and will never, represent the 14.5 million peaceful Fulani citizens of this country.”
The association maintained that it has consistently condemned criminality in all forms and will not offer protection or justification for individuals involved in violent acts.
MACBAN also reiterated its readiness to work with security agencies in addressing insecurity, noting that it has instructed its state and zonal structures to strengthen intelligence sharing with law enforcement authorities and traditional institutions.
It explained that the aim of this collaboration is to help identify and expose criminal elements who exploit forests and border communities as hiding places.
The group further condemned terrorism, banditry, and targeted killings across the country, regardless of the identity of the perpetrators, while cautioning against ethnic profiling that could worsen tensions and hinder security efforts.
It also urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to invest more in livestock reforms, particularly ranching and modern grazing systems, as part of long-term solutions to recurring farmer-herder conflicts.
According to MACBAN, sustainable peace will depend on a combination of justice, dialogue, security cooperation, and economic reforms that address the root causes of insecurity.
