The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to issue a directive to security agencies for the protection of pastoralist communities across the country.
In a statement on Friday, Bello Gotomo, national secretary-general of the association, said pastoralists continue to face “discriminatory practices, ethnic profiling, and scapegoating” despite being citizens deserving of equal protection.
Gotomo urged the National Security Adviser to take decisive steps to address the stigmatisation of herders, warning that continued neglect could deepen national divisions.
“The Nigerian government must ensure accountability, justice, and protection for all citizens regardless of ethnicity,” he said.
MACBAN also condemned what it described as the unlawful arrest and inhuman treatment of herders at Opere Market in Kabba local government area of Kogi state.
“The profiling and harassment of herders is unacceptable. We call on the federal government, the National Human Rights Commission, and the international community to urgently intervene,” the group said.
The appeal comes amid ongoing tensions in parts of the country, where armed herders have been accused of violent attacks, kidnapping, and destruction of farmland — particularly in Ondo and neighbouring states.
Gotomo, however, cautioned against collective blame, stressing that “criminals exist in every community” and that peaceful herders should not be treated as suspects by default.