The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has faulted a bill before the United States Congress seeking sanctions against it, describing the move as unjust and oversimplified.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the association said the proposed legislation — H.R. 7457, titled Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 — wrongly associates its members with terrorism and mass atrocities, an allegation it described as baseless and damaging to its reputation as a registered national body.
MACBAN President, Othman Ngelzarma, called on Nigeria’s Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to engage U.S. lawmakers through diplomatic channels to counter what he termed false insinuations contained in the bill.
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He warned that allowing the labelling and proposed sanctions to stand could have wider consequences, though he did not specify details.
The legislation, sponsored by Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart and Bill Huizenga, proposes sanctions against MACBAN, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over alleged violations of religious freedom.
If enacted, the measure would mandate the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury to impose penalties — including visa restrictions and asset freezes — on individuals or entities found responsible for severe religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
