Ortom Vindicated as U.S. Parliament Calls for Sanctions on Miyetti Allah Groups
The Forum of Concerned Nigerians (FCN) says the latest move by the United States House of Representatives to recommend sanctions against Miyetti Allah groups has validated former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom’s long-standing warnings about escalating attacks across the country.
In a statement on Thursday by its Secretary General, Andrew Longyem, the forum noted that the development has reopened conversations about Ortom’s repeated calls for decisive action against groups linked to killings and displacement in several states, describing the U.S. resolution as a major turning point that places global attention on issues the former governor raised when many were unwilling to listen.
The statement read: “History keeps vindicating the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, but Nigerians are never learning their lessons from this man of vision and wisdom who is obviously a loud voice in the wilderness. Recent events have proven that Ortom is indeed a man who saw tomorrow, a man of peace, brought into our polity to stabilize the system. He is committed to making us stand upright to realities that have befallen us as a people. But when shall we learn?
For many years, Ortom’s voice echoed like a cry in the wilderness on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute leaders of the Miyetti Allah groups and other violent organizations such as a Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM, over the killing of thousands of innocent Nigerians and taking over their lands, but the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari ignored Ortom’s patriotic appeals. The government instead vilified him and treated him as persona non grata. He was denied several benefits for his state which were given to other state governors.
Today, Chief Ortom has been vindicated! The United States House of Representatives has made a bold and courageous resolution urging the Departments of State and Treasury to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and organizations, including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, for their alleged involvement in egregious violations of religious freedom and orchestrated attacks across parts of Nigeria.
This resolution, introduced before the 119th Congress as H. Res. 860 by Rep. Christopher Smith and co-sponsored by Rep. Paul Huizenga, represents a historic step toward global accountability for the persistent acts of violence, killings, and displacement suffered by innocent Nigerians, particularly in Benue and Plateau States. The recommendation for the inclusion of Fulani terrorists on the Entities of Particular Concern List under the International Religious Freedom Act sends a strong signal that impunity for terrorism and religious persecution will no longer be tolerated.
More importantly, this development has validated the stand of Chief Samuel Ortom, who, throughout his tenure from 2015 to 2023, consistently raised the alarm over the atrocities committed by armed herdsmen and the complicity or indifference of federal authorities at the time.
Governor Ortom repeatedly called for the arrest and prosecution of the leaders of Miyetti Allah groups and other violent Fulani organizations such as the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM). Unfortunately, instead of listening to his warnings and taking decisive action, the then Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari vilified him, mocked his patriotic stand, and treated him as an enemy.
Governor Ortom endured relentless attacks, politically, personally, and through orchestrated disinformation, yet he stood firm, unmoved in his defense of justice, peace, fairness, equity and the sanctity of human life. His administration’s enactment and firm implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 was a landmark effort to restore order and end the wave of killings that had turned Benue communities into mass graves. For this courage, Ortom was hounded, blackmailed, and isolated by those who chose politics over human lives.
With this resolution by the United States House of Representatives, history has once again vindicated Samuel Ortom. The international community has finally acknowledged the same truth he spoke fearlessly years ago, stating that Nigeria cannot achieve lasting peace without confronting and holding accountable those who have turned herdsmen militias into instruments of terror.
The Forum of Concerned Nigerians(FCN), therefore fully supports the U.S. Congress’ recommendation for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and other applicable frameworks. We urge the United States government to move swiftly to enforce visa bans, asset freezes, and other punitive measures against identified individuals and organizations that have sponsored, supported, or participated in acts of terror and religious persecution.
We also call on the present Nigerian government led by President Bola Tinubu to take a cue from this international stance by reviving all reports, intelligence, and recommendations previously ignored concerning the activities of violent herders and their sponsors. Justice for the countless victims of herdsmen attacks in Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Taraba, Southern Nasarawa and other states must no longer be delayed or denied.
Chief Samuel Ortom has demonstrated through his words and actions what true patriotism means – standing for truth, justice, and the people even in the face of overwhelming opposition. The latest position by the United States Congress is not only a vindication of his courage but also a validation of his vision for a peaceful, law-abiding, and equitable Nigeria.
We salute His Excellency Ortom for his steadfastness, foresight, and sacrifice for the defense of humanity. We equally commend the United States Congress for siding with justice and truth, and for amplifying the voice of oppressed communities in Nigeria who have suffered in silence for too long.
The time has come for Nigeria and the global community to act decisively against those who promote bloodshed under any guise.
We expect the Tinubu administration to quickly find ways of ending the bloodshed and apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. This is the action Nigerians and the rest of the world want to see.”
