The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says worsening insecurity has forced more than 15,000 herders and their families to relocate outside the country.

National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma, disclosed this in Ilorin during the inauguration of the new Kwara State chairman of the association, Alhaji Shehu Garba. He lamented that Fulani pastoralists remain the hardest hit by banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and terrorism.

“In the last few years, we have lost over 40,000 cattle to rustling, and many of our people have been killed. This is pushing some of our members to leave the country entirely,” Ngelzarma said.

He called for a community-based security approach involving all stakeholders, warning against the ethnic profiling of Fulani people. “Not everything you see on social media is true. We need understanding and cooperation between host communities and Fulani herders to find lasting solutions,” he stressed.

Ngelzarma commended the federal and state governments for establishing a Livestock Development ministry, describing it as a step toward addressing the challenges in the sector. He also revealed that the association is working to phase out the nomadic grazing system, noting that “wandering with cattle is no longer sustainable because of our growing population. We are looking at single herders’ settlements where everyone can live a better life.”

Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Security, Muyideen Aliyu, assured that the state government will continue to work with the Fulani community to ensure safety. He urged community leaders to remain alert and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Also, the Hardon Hardodi (Fulani head) in Kwara State, Alhaji Mahmud Ojonla—represented by Alhaji Ali Muhammed Jowuro—called on leaders to ensure fairness and justice in their dealings with all communities.

In her remarks, Special Assistant to the Governor on Fulani Affairs, Hajiya Aishatu Yusuf, urged Fulani leaders to promote peace and harmony with other ethnic groups, advising them to “lead with the fear of God.”

The newly inaugurated Kwara MACBAN chairman, Alhaji Shehu Garba, pledged to work with farmers and other stakeholders to foster peaceful coexistence in the state. “Security is everybody’s business. We will play our part to make sure our communities are safe,” he said.