The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders have rejected their inclusion in the United States list of religious freedom violators in Nigeria.
The US lawmakers had proposed visa bans and asset freezes against ex-Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over alleged violations of religious freedoms in Nigeria.
Reacting to the development during an interview with Punch, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Baba Ngelzarma, described the allegations as unfounded, insisting the association is not a terrorist organisation.
In the past, when this report first came out, we had a series of engagements with the American embassy, with contingents of the Congress, and the rest. So, we have reacted verbally, and we have reacted with documentation and everything. We are not a terrorist group,” Ngelzarma said.
He maintained that the Nigerian government is fully aware of the association’s activities and its legal status.
“The Nigerian government knows much about the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. We have never been involved in any form of terrorism. We have never taken responsibility for any form of terrorism,” he said.
Ngelzarma explained that the association, registered 42 years ago, represents cattle breeders across religious and ethnic lines and does not shield criminal elements.
He expressed surprise that the group was still being linked to terrorism despite previous engagements with international bodies.
“We represent the peaceful herders who are doing their peaceful and legitimate business. We don’t represent any criminal in the country. So, we are still surprised that this thing, despite all this thing, that this thing is still going on,’’ he added.
According to him, Miyetti Allah has held consultations with various international organisations, including humanitarian and interfaith groups, to clarify its position.
“We have had a series of engagements with international agencies such as the National Corps, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Interfaith Radiation Centre, and many other international agencies. We are never a terrorist group,” he added.
On the proposed visa bans and sanctions, Ngelzarma argued that the association does not deserve such punitive measures.
Do we even deserve to be sanctioned? We don’t deserve to be sanctioned because we are not a criminal group. We don’t even deserve to be sanctioned. So, for what reason can you sanction us?” he queried.
He called on the Nigerian government to intervene diplomatically.
“We are citizens of Nigeria; we are under the Nigerian government. This association is under the Nigerian law, and this association has been issued a registration to operate legally. So, we deserve to be protected by our own government here at home. Whatever that should be with the Americans should be with the Nigerian government,” he said.
Ngelzarma urged the FG to engage the US government to address what he described as “misconceptions surrounding the security crisis in Nigeria.”
This is coming hours after News Region reported that the US government has deployed 200 troops to Nigeria to help train the Nigerian military in their efforts to combat terrorism.
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