The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the presidential pardon granted to Yoruba self-determination activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, describing it as “tribal justice” and a miscarriage of justice.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its South-West Zone, the umbrella body for Fulani herders said the pardon has reopened painful memories of violent attacks allegedly carried out against Fulani settlements in Oyo State between 2020 and 2021.
Signed by Alhaji Mumini Muhammad, MACBAN’s South-West Coordinator, the statement said the decision has been received with anger and deep resentment across Fulani communities, which it claimed bore the brunt of Igboho’s actions and those of his supporters.
According to the group, Igboho was directly involved in a series of attacks on Fulani herders and settlements in Oyo State and neighbouring areas, resulting in killings, arson, destruction of homes, cattle rustling, and the displacement of families who had lived peacefully in the region for years.
“These acts were not carried out in secret,” the statement said. “They occurred openly, in full view of authorities. Many community members witnessed them firsthand, and evidence exists.”
MACBAN cited the January 22, 2021 attack in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, as a particularly traumatic incident, alleging that lives were lost, homes were razed, and families permanently displaced. The association also alleged that similar attacks occurred in Iseyin and along major routes in Oyo State, where Fulani herders were reportedly killed while travelling or conducting their lawful activities.
“These were not rumours or misunderstandings,” the group insisted, describing the incidents as deliberate acts of violence.
Beyond the pardon, MACBAN also raised concerns over the alleged role of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, whom it accused of facilitating the pardon process. The group pointed to what it described as a long-standing relationship between Igboho and the monarch, alleging that Igboho previously served as Oba Ladoja’s personal bodyguard.
The association questioned the silence of traditional and state authorities during the alleged attacks.
“Was the Olubadan unaware when Fulani communities were attacked, homes burned, cattle stolen, and innocent people killed?” the statement asked. “Why were there no official condemnations, investigations, or compensation at the time?”
MACBAN said it was unacceptable that Fulani victims received no immediate intervention, while political and institutional efforts were later mobilised to secure Igboho’s pardon.
The group also compared Igboho’s pardon with the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the situation as evidence of inconsistency in the administration of justice.
“Nnamdi Kanu was arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned for actions deemed threats to national security,” the statement said. “Yet a Yoruba activist accused of violent acts resulting in deaths and displacement has been pardoned.”
According to MACBAN, the development raises questions about equality before the law and whether justice in Nigeria is influenced by ethnicity.
The association said the pardon was a blow to Fulani victims, including widows, orphans, and displaced families, warning that it undermines public confidence in government and threatens national unity.
While stressing that the Fulani community is not seeking revenge, MACBAN said it is demanding justice and outlined several demands, including formal acknowledgment by the Federal Government of alleged crimes against Fulani communities in Oyo State, compensation for affected families, a public explanation for the pardon, and assurances that Nigeria does not operate a tribal justice system.
“Peace cannot thrive where injustice is rewarded,” the group said, adding that national unity cannot endure if victims are ignored and alleged perpetrators celebrated.
