The US Mission Nigeria is under fire after posting a photo of a meeting with Mi-Yetti Allah members, stirring widespread outrage
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he United States Mission in Nigeria has come under intense criticism following a controversial post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, featuring a meeting with members of the Mi-Yetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The photo showed the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills, Jr., alongside top MACBAN members. The post read:
“Today, Ambassador Mills met with the Mi-Yetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to hear about the concerns of herder communities. The meeting included discussion of the causes of insecurity and opportunities to peacefully resolve conflict.”
However, the post quickly sparked outrage among Nigerians, who accused the US of appearing to align with aggressors responsible for years of violence against farmers and rural communities.
The farmers-herders conflict in Nigeria has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many across the Middle Belt and southern regions, with MACBAN often linked to attacks.
One commenter remarked, “Meeting with the aggressor could signal approval of their actions, right?”
Another, Omolayo, simply stated, “Shame shame shame,” while Emmanuel Smart added, “Shame on u guys.”
While a few voices, like A. Obaf, praised the engagement saying, “Keep up the good work 🙏🏼,” most responses condemned the meeting.
Moses Okpogoke described it as, “Meeting with the extremists!”
Save the Persecuted Christians (@PersecutedSave) also weighed in, accusing MACBAN of being “the driving force behind the violence,” and urged the US Mission to meet instead with persecuted Christian communities and visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
In a critical comment, Cicinnatus suggested geopolitical motives behind the meeting, stating,
“Looks like they are more interested in aligning with whoever can help secure the natural resources in the regions. Right now, the killers have nothing in their way which makes them the potential winners and owners of the territories. They will sell us out for US interests.”
The US Embassy has yet to issue an official response to the backlash.
Follow the conversation below.
Today, Ambassador Mills met with the Mi-Yetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to hear about the concerns of herder communities. The meeting included discussion of the causes of insecurity and opportunities to peacefully resolve conflict. pic.twitter.com/8AMXq9GrUM
— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) April 28, 2025
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
