The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to issue a presidential directive to security agencies to ensure the protection of pastoralist communities across the country.
In a statement released Thursday, MACBAN’s National Secretary-General, Bello Gotomo, also called on the Federal Government to end what the group described as discriminatory practices against herders.
Gotomo stressed the importance of the National Security Adviser taking concrete steps to address alleged ethnic profiling, stigmatisation, and scapegoating of pastoralists in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government must ensure accountability, justice, and protection for all citizens regardless of ethnicity,” the statement read.
MACBAN also condemned the alleged unlawful arrest and mistreatment of herders at Opere Market in Kabba Local Government Area, describing it as part of a growing pattern of discrimination.
The group further appealed to the National Human Rights Commission and the international community to urgently intervene to protect the rights of herders.
While herders have faced growing scrutiny over alleged involvement in violence, kidnappings, and farmland destruction in states like Ondo, MACBAN maintains that not all pastoralists should be treated as criminals.
The association’s plea comes amid rising tensions and ongoing debates over security, land use, and ethnic relations across parts of the country.