As part of efforts to address rising security tensions in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and southern regions, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, held a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Monday.
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja, through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, confirmed the engagement, emphasising that the discussions were centered on understanding the underlying causes of insecurity faced by herder communities and promoting pathways to sustainable peace.
The meeting comes amid heightened public concern over a surge in deadly attacks linked to armed herdsmen, particularly in Benue State, where more than 70 lives were lost in recent incidents.
The Afia community in Ukum Local Government Area was also attacked, resulting in about 11 fatalities.
Similar violence has been recorded in states such as Ondo, Edo, and Rivers, provoking fears of a deepening national crisis.
MACBAN, however, has consistently maintained that the pastoralist community is unfairly targeted and that a more inclusive approach is needed to build lasting peace.
The group reiterated its position that tackling insecurity requires acknowledging the socio-economic pressures and displacement affecting herders.
According to the embassy’s statement, the dialogue was part of efforts to listen to the perspectives of pastoralists and foster solutions to the recurring conflicts that have pitted herders against farming communities in several states, including Benue, Plateau, Ondo, and Ogun.
“Ambassador Mills met with representatives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to hear directly from them about the issues confronting herder populations.
“The conversation addressed the drivers of insecurity and explored opportunities for peaceful conflict resolution,”the embassy noted.
The meeting occurred against the backdrop of renewed violence and public demonstrations in parts of the country, particularly in regions where clashes between herders and farmers have escalated in recent months.
During the interaction, MACBAN leaders outlined the various threats confronting their members across the federation.
They highlighted a range of grievances, including insufficient security protection, alleged discriminatory policies, and what they termed the ethnic profiling of pastoralist groups.
The association appealed for greater federal intervention, calling on President Bola Tinubu to issue clear directives to security agencies to ensure the safety of herding communities.
In addition, they urged the Office of the National Security Adviser to take decisive steps in curbing practices that contribute to stigmatization and marginalization.
