30,000 militants do not represent 14.5 million Fulani Nigerians – Miyetti Allah

MACBAN's National President, Baba Ngelzarma. Credit : MACBAN

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has distanced the Fulani community from criminal groups operating across the country, stating that the estimated 30,000 militants and bandits cited in a recent report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom do not represent the 14.5 million Fulani citizens in Nigeria.

In the report, USCIRF said 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across Nigeria in groups ranging from 10 to 1,000 members.

It added that the militants had become some of the deadliest non-state actors driving religious freedom violations in Nigeria.

Responding in a statement on Friday, MACBAN’s National President, Baba Ngelzarma, said law-abiding pastoralists were among the primary victims of criminal syndicates, suffering cattle rustling, kidnappings and retaliatory attacks.