Incessant Attacks of Host Communities by Fulani Herdsmen.

FULANI HERDSMEN: Another major security challenge that is grappling for definite attention by the government is the incessant clashes between the nomadic Fulani Herdsmen and the host communities/Farmers.

There have been massive, widespread, unprovoked attacks on host communities by these marauding Fulani Herdsmen.

They destroy Farms, rape women, burn houses, and sack host communities creating a lot of havoc and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

We are not comfortable with how the government is handling this security challenge in the nation. Government’s response to the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen is worrisome. We recollect that as soon as Mr. President was sworn in, he directed the security agencies to go after cattle rustlers, and within a short time, thousands of cattle were recovered and the weight of the law was brought against these criminals.

In the case of marauding Fulani herdsmen killing the farmers, no tacit statement condemning and concrete step to stop and punish them is in place. Rather, what we see are plans that bother on the provision of grazing areas all over the country in favour of the herdsmen, while the farmer victims have no redress.

A criminal is a criminal whether a cattle rustler or a herdsman murderer. THE MARAUDING FULANI HERDSMEN ARE NOW RATED 4^TH WORST TERRORIST GROUP BY THE GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX.

http://venturesafrica.com/terror-groups-one-two-many-nigerian-fulani-herdsmen-are-one-of-five-deadliest-terror-groups-in-the-world/

We shall be highlighting these criminal activities, the socio-economic and security implications below.

CASE REPORTS SINCE JANUARY 2016

There have been several cases of attacks by the Fulani herdsmen since January 2016. These include

AGATU MASSACRE:

Ten communities were razed while no fewer than 500 lives were lost in the Agatu massacre in Benue State.

Protest in Delta over alleged killings by Fulani herdsmen

Twenty-five local government areas in Delta State grounded activities on the Benin-Asaba Expressway. They reported that the herdsmen allegedly killed over 23 persons. Interestingly, the police recovered 20 AK-47 rifles, 70 Dane guns, 30 double-barrel guns, and over 1,000 live ammunition, mostly from Fulani herdsmen during this period.

Fulani herdsmen attack Oyo farmers

Farmers in Lagun, Iyana Offa, Offa, Atagba, Lapata, and their surrounding communities in Lagelu Local Council Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, alleged that a group of Fulani armed men attacked their communities at night, injured a guard, and carted away valuables.

Fulani herdsmen kill 15 in Taraba

Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of the state and killed 15 people.

Fulani herdsmen kill five in Benue community

Five persons were killed on Thursday night by Fulani herdsmen at Okokolo village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Clashes In Ghana

The acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Adekunbi Sonaike Ayodeji, disclosed the killing of seven Fulani Nigerian herdsmen in Ghana.

Addressing a news conference in Accra, Commissioner Ayodeji said the Fulani herdsmen were killed when they clashed with some farmers in some parts of the country. She said the Commission will take responsibility in part for the activities of the herdsmen because some of them are citizens of Nigeria. Commissioner Ayodeji blamed the whipping of sentiments by the Ghanaian media which she said is responsible for the recent hostility activities against Fulani herdsmen

ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK BY FULANI HERDSMEN ON NIMBO UZO-UWANI L.G.A. ENUGU STATE ON MONDAY 25^TH APRIL 2016

Prior to the most recent attack, the members of the community have had a running battle with Fulani Herdsmen who send their cattle into their farms to destroy their crops. Sometimes they (Fulani herdsmen) harvest the crops like cassava and feed their animals. They later reported raping women in the farms such that women stopped going to the farms alone. Even the men always went to the farms in groups. The aim of the herdsmen was to sack them from their communal land. Sometime in February 2016, the herdsmen killed three men from the community. All these matters were reported to the Police. On one occasion, the members of the community apprehended two Fulani men and handed them over to the Police.

On the recent incident, the villagers got information of the impending attack and reported to the State Governor and the Police. Policemen were drafted from Adani the Local Government Headquarters to patrol the area. On a fateful day, the policemen withdrew around 4 a.m. without replacement and within 30 minutes of their withdrawal, the herdsmen struck. In order not to raise alarm, knowing that the community had a vigilante group, they initially attacked their victims with machetes as they came out of their rooms. A young man who slept outside his room because of the hot weather saw them and they pursued him. He escaped from them and raised the alarm that Fulani people were attacking the village. That was the saving grace the community had. The herdsmen were led by an Alhaji with chaplet in his hands who appeared to be their spiritual head. When they realized they had been discovered, they started shooting people. Twelve men were killed in the attack but more corpses are still being discovered in the bush and some who sustained injuries are still dying in the hospitals. It was the sight of two corpses discovered during the Governor’s visit that made him shed tears.

When the Inspector General of Police visited, a member of the community recalled an incident where he saw one of the policemen patrolling the area discussing with some Fulani people in the bush. The IGP then ordered the arrest of all the policemen involved in the patrol.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC / SECURITY IMPLICATION OF THE CLASHES

The ongoing conflict between farmers and herdsmen across the Northcentral alone is costing Nigeria at least $14 billion in potential revenue annually (2.8 trillion (45% of 2016 budget) according to the UK DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID). It has created so much hatred, phobia, and threats by various groups across the divide which if not carefully managed can snowball into more serious ethnic, religious, and civil conflicts/war.

SECURITY: These clashes have cost the lives of over 1600 Nigerians, women have been raped, properties destroyed. Nigeria is now ranked second to Afghanistan as the worst country to live in terms of terrorism. Nigeria currently harbors 3 of the 5 deadliest terror groups in the world according to the global terrorism index (Boko Haram – 7000, ISIL – 6000, Fulani herdsmen – 2000).

RECOMMENDATIONS (SOCIO-ECONOMIC)

We say a capital NO to grazing reserve/route/ nomadism for several reasons below
It conflicts with the constitution, the land use act which vest the power of land ownership to governors / LG to be held in trust for the people.
Federal Government cannot grab community land for private use while denying the community their means of livelihood.
Nigeria has over 400 ethnic groups, why should one group’s economic interest be more important than the others.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander – If we must have grazing reserves/routes in all states of the federation, then justice demands that we should have similar provisions for Dogs, Pigs, reserves, fish ponds for Niger Deltans whose waters are polluted, cocoa, plantain, rubber plantation should equally be created in all the states of the federation!!
Private Ranching / padlocking is the modern way: It is sustainable, scientific, conflict-free, and produces better, healthy cattle with good beef/milk production. The government could support such private enterprises who form clusters with soft loans, schools, hospitals, and other social amenities.
Alternative sources of feeds for cattle turning our wastes into feeds (cassava peels, harvested cereal plants, husk/chaff from rice, beans, and corn), vegetables, etc.
Using integrated modern technology (Fodder Solutions)- where grasses are grown and harvested within 6 days. The system uses water and nutrients to produce highly nutritious forage from maize, millet, sorghum, barley, and oat seed.
i) Sambisia forest occupies 60, 000km²(6 million hectares) of which only 500 – 600km square is a forest reserve should be converted into a national ranch when the insurgents have been eliminated. These will among others, solve the security problem as it will no longer form a haven for terrorists. It will provide job/employment opportunities for the community and adjoining states of Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, and Jigawa. It will also encourage investors to establish Agro-allied industries for dairy, beef, and tannery processing.

Social amenities / roads / rail network will be constructed there, thus opening the place for rapid development.

RECOMMENDATIONS (SECURITY):

Disarm all cattle herdsmen
Criminals to be arrested and prosecuted as a deterrent to others.
Conflict resolution; inter-communal dialogue especially at boundary areas.
Real-life Satellite imaging of conflict-prone areas/border/use of drones to forestall an attack.
Decentralization of Nigeria Police with State policing / security outfit under the control of the Governor / CP.
Cases of genuine ethnic cleansing should be referred to ICC by the affected communities.
Strengthening the security agencies – recruitment, technology, and efficient funding/ communication tool.

CONCLUSION:

THE LOOMING ANARCHY IN THE LAND

The activities of the cattle herdsmen as mentioned above have neither attracted sympathy nor intervention from the security agents or governments. IGP was quoted as saying that most of these herdsmen are not Nigerians but is this a valid excuse for inactivity especially when these people wield sophisticated weapons like AK 47, grenades, etc.

It appears Nigerians have come to realize that their governments are unwilling to protect and defend them and are already strategizing to defend themselves which is their constitutional right. In the South West, the OPC has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the herdsmen to vacate their land. The South East is reconstituting the “Bakassi Boys” for their defense. The Niger Deltans are unhappy with their governors for their inactivity and are spoiling for action. This government’s failure to defend and protect all Nigerians is creating a fertile ground for Anarchy. This government must accept the responsibility for this outcome. Fortunately, there is still time to prevent anarchy if this government immediately disarms the herdsmen and restricts them to ranches. This will restore the confidence of Nigerians in their security agencies and render irrelevant the grooming of ethnic militias.