The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN has raised alarm over the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, calling for a fundamental shift from military-led operations to dialogue and inclusive engagement.
MACBAN President, Othman Nhelzarma made the call at a news conference held in Kaduna, where it decried the rising death toll and growing threats to pastoralist communities.
Presenting the President’s address, MACBAN’s National Secretary-General, Bello Gotomo, said over 50,000 pastoralists have been killed, and four million heads of cattle lost to ongoing violence in Northern region, describing the situation as devastating and unsustainable.
He blamed the crisis on insurgents, bandits, and emerging terror groups in states like Borno, Yobe, Kwara, and Oyo, who steal livestock to fund their activities.
He also raised concern over ethnic profiling, warning that continuous stigmatisation of Fulani herders could trigger large-scale violence if not urgently addressed.
The MACBAN leader said the association had previously engaged with security agencies and State Governors on peaceful solutions to end violence, but those efforts were abandoned due to lack of continuity and changes in leadership.
While welcoming the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, he urged northern states to support the initiative, saying it could help boost the economy and curb rural insecurity if backed by inclusive dialogue and reform.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
