Yoruba Union Hails U.S. Congress Over Bill To Ban Fulani Herders, Demands Sanctions On Tinubu, IGP, Top Officials

Ikeja, Lagos State- The Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has applauded the United States Congress for proposing a bill seeking to ban Fulani herders, including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, along with some top Nigerian government officials allegedly involved in violent attacks and negotiations with Fulani militias responsible for killings across Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Union’s Convener, Olusola Badero, through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the group commended the U.S. lawmakers for taking what it described as “a historic step toward justice and accountability” for victims of herders’ violence in the South West and other parts of Nigeria.

According to the statement, the Union expressed deep frustration that despite several years of appeals to the international community — including the European Union and the United Nations — no decisive action had been taken to curb the atrocities committed by armed Fulani herders.

“For too long, Yoruba communities have suffered untold hardship at the hands of marauding Fulani herdsmen who have killed hundreds of innocent people, kidnapped women and children, raped young girls, and destroyed thousands of farmlands,” the group said.

“Entire villages have been wiped out, and many Yoruba people have been displaced from their ancestral homes across Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, and Kogi States.”

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá explained that the continued attacks have left countless children orphaned, many women widowed, and several men widowers due to what it called “the Nigerian government’s failure to protect its citizens.”

The group accused federal authorities of being complicit in the violence, claiming that instead of confronting the perpetrators, the government has chosen to negotiate with them.

“The inability of the Nigerian government to secure lives and property has made them complicit in the mass killings across the country. The same government that should have ordered the military to flush out these criminals now sits at the negotiation table with them — collecting ransoms, tolerating their violence, and reintegrating them into society under the guise of rehabilitation,” the Yoruba Union added.

The Yoruba Union further called on the U.S. Congress to go beyond the proposed ban by imposing comprehensive sanctions on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of his administration, and the leadership of Nigeria’s security agencies.

The group urged Washington to suspend all foreign aid to Nigeria, arguing that the assistance has not improved the living conditions of ordinary citizens.

“President Tinubu’s government has made life unbearable for Nigerians through anti-people economic policies that have crippled millions of businesses, heightened poverty, and worsened insecurity,” the Union stated.

“We are calling on the U.S. government to sanction Tinubu, all senators, members of the House of Representatives, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for human rights violations, corruption, and failure to protect Nigerians.”

The Yoruba advocacy group also urged the U.S. President to revoke the visas of all Nigerian public officials and their family members, arguing that those in power continue to enjoy privileges abroad while neglecting their citizens at home.

However, the Union called on the U.S. Congress to compel the Nigerian government to compensate all victims of herders’ violence, including families of those killed, injured, and farmers whose livelihoods were destroyed.

It also demanded an immediate halt to the government’s controversial program of rehabilitating and reintegrating so-called “repentant terrorists” into Nigerian communities, describing it as a threat to national security and peace.

“The time has come for the international community to stand with the oppressed Yoruba people and all Nigerians who are victims of terrorism and government negligence. Justice must prevail, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Yoruba Union added.