The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue a decisive presidential directive to security agencies across the country to ensure the protection of pastoralist communities who, according to the group, continue to suffer neglect, discrimination, and unfair treatment.
In a statement issued on Friday by the association’s National Secretary-General, Bello Gotomo, MACBAN expressed growing concern over the rising cases of ethnic profiling and unlawful arrests targeting members of the herding community. Gotomo described the situation as “a dangerous trend” that could further worsen tensions between herders and other ethnic groups, especially in volatile regions.
Gotomo called on the Federal Government to urgently end all forms of alleged discriminatory practices against herders, who he said have continuously faced harassment and stigmatisation in many parts of the country. He also emphasized the need for justice and accountability in the treatment of all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnicity or occupation.
“The Nigerian government must ensure accountability, justice and protection for all citizens regardless of ethnicity,” he stated.
The MACBAN scribe particularly decried what he described as the “unlawful arrest and inhumane treatment” of several Fulani herdsmen at the Opere Market in Kabba Local Government Area of Kogi State, insisting that their only ‘offence’ was their identity as herders.
“This constant profiling of Fulani pastoralists as criminals has no place in a country governed by law. The rights of herders must be protected like those of every other citizen,” Gotomo said.
He further urged the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to take concrete and proactive steps to end the scapegoating of herders and ensure their inclusion in national security planning and protection strategies.
MACBAN also called on the National Human Rights Commission and international bodies to step in and address what it referred to as “a clear pattern of institutional neglect and systemic bias.”
This latest appeal from MACBAN comes against the backdrop of widespread allegations that armed herdsmen have been responsible for various forms of violence, including attacks on farmlands and kidnapping incidents, particularly in Ondo and other states. However, Gotomo maintains that painting the entire herding community with the same brush is both unjust and counterproductive.
He urged the government to distinguish between criminal elements and innocent pastoralists, many of whom he said are peace-loving Nigerians who contribute immensely to the nation's food security and rural economy.
As the country grapples with insecurity and growing ethnic mistrust, MACBAN’s plea for inclusion and protection signals a fresh chapter in the ongoing debate about justice, equity, and the future of pastoralism in Nigeria.