A civil society group under the banner of the Forum of Concerned Nigerians (FCN) has hailed the recent move by the United States House of Representatives to impose sanctions on the Miyetti Allah organizations for their alleged role in widespread killings and human rights abuses across Nigeria.
The group said the development had vindicated former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who for years warned the Nigerian government about the violent activities of armed herder groups and the need for accountability.
In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, FCN described the U.S. decision as “a victory for truth and justice,” saying it confirmed Ortom’s long-standing position on insecurity in the Middle Belt.
The U.S. House of Representatives, through a resolution introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Christopher Smith and co-sponsored by Rep. Paul Huizenga, urged the Departments of State and Treasury to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and organizations accused of serious violations of religious freedom and human rights in Nigeria.
The resolution, identified as House Resolution 860 (H. Res. 860), specifically named the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, urging the U.S. government to take action against them.
It also called for the inclusion of Fulani militant groups on the Entities of Particular Concern List under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA)—a step that could lead to restrictions such as visa bans, asset freezes, and other punitive measures.
According to the resolution, the targeted groups and individuals were allegedly responsible for “egregious violations of religious freedom” and “orchestrated attacks” on vulnerable farming communities, especially in Benue and Plateau States.
Rep. Smith, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said the resolution sought to hold perpetrators of violence accountable and encourage Nigeria to strengthen its protection of human rights and freedom of religion.
In its statement, the Forum of Concerned Nigerians said the U.S. action was “a clear vindication” of Chief Samuel Ortom’s warnings over the years about the activities of armed herders and the alleged complicity of powerful groups in the ongoing attacks on farming communities.
“History has once again vindicated Chief Samuel Ortom,” the group declared. “For years, he cried out against the killings and displacement of innocent people by armed herdsmen, yet he was mocked and vilified. Today, the international community has seen the truth he spoke.”
The group recalled that during Ortom’s tenure as Governor of Benue State (2015–2023), he consistently called on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute leaders of Miyetti Allah and other organizations such as the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) for allegedly masterminding violent attacks on farmers.
However, FCN said the government under former President Muhammadu Buhari failed to act, choosing instead to dismiss Ortom’s warnings as political.
“The previous administration ignored Ortom’s appeals and turned him into a political target, even denying Benue State certain federal benefits because he spoke against injustice,” the statement alleged.
The group also commended Ortom’s decision to introduce the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017, describing it as a courageous and forward-thinking move to end the recurring clashes between herders and farmers.
“Governor Ortom demonstrated true patriotism by defending justice and human life, even when he was isolated and attacked politically. The U.S. resolution has now validated his position,” the FCN said.
The group added that the anti-open grazing law, which encouraged the establishment of ranches instead of free movement of cattle, had since become a model for other states in the Middle Belt and southern Nigeria.
Since its passage, however, the law has faced criticism from herder groups, particularly Miyetti Allah, who claim it discriminates against pastoralists and restricts their traditional means of livelihood.
The FCN urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take the U.S. Congress’s position seriously by revisiting intelligence reports and security briefings previously ignored regarding the activities of violent herder groups and their sponsors.
“Justice for the countless victims of herdsmen attacks in Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Taraba, and other states must no longer be delayed or denied,” the forum said.
It also appealed to the Federal Government to work more closely with international partners, including the United States, in tracking and prosecuting those behind rural violence and mass killings.
The group said the Nigerian government must show that it values every life equally, regardless of ethnic or religious identity.
“The time has come for Nigeria to move beyond political rhetoric and act decisively against anyone or any organization that promotes bloodshed under any guise,” it stated.
In its statement, FCN also called on the U.S. government to quickly implement the sanctions proposed in the congressional resolution under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which allows the U.S. to penalize foreign officials and entities involved in corruption or serious human rights abuses.
“Those who have financed, organized, or defended the killing of innocent Nigerians must be held accountable,” the forum said.
It further praised the U.S. Congress for what it described as “standing on the side of truth and justice” and amplifying the voices of communities that have suffered from herder-farmer conflicts for over a decade.
Nigeria’s farmer-herder crisis has been one of the country’s longest-running sources of internal conflict. What began as competition over land and water resources has, over the years, taken on ethnic and religious dimensions, especially in states like Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Kaduna.
Violence between armed herders and farming communities has led to thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and the destruction of farmland. Many victims have accused security agencies of slow or biased responses.
Miyetti Allah, a national association representing cattle breeders, has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks, saying the organization’s goal is to promote peaceful coexistence and protect the interests of herders.
Successive Nigerian governments have promised to end the violence through peace dialogues, security operations, and ranching initiatives, but lasting peace has remained elusive.
Samuel Ortom, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), served two terms as Benue State governor between 2015 and 2023. During his tenure, he became one of the most vocal critics of the Buhari administration, accusing it of failing to protect farmers and rural communities.
His administration faced numerous attacks by suspected herders, including the 2018 New Year’s Day massacre in Guma and Logo local government areas, where over 70 people were killed. The incident drew national outrage and prompted mass protests.
Despite criticism, Ortom maintained his stance that open grazing must end for peace to return to Benue and other parts of Nigeria.
Concluding its statement, the Forum of Concerned Nigerians reiterated its support for Ortom and commended the U.S. lawmakers for their decision.
“The international community has finally recognized the cries of the victims,” FCN said. “History will remember those who stood for justice and those who kept silent while blood was shed.”
