NCGF Presentation to Nigeria Senate on Grazing Bill/Fulani Herdsmen.

INTRODUCTION: 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Senator (Dr. Abdulahi Adamu), Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Distinguished members of the committee. I rest on the existing protocol. I am Professor Charles Adeyinka Adisa and I represent the Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship. 

NCGF is an inter-denominational fellowship of Christian graduates/professionals. Our motto is “Saved to serve”. We are saved by God to serve him and humanity through the empowerment of people, medical mission to underserved areas in and outside the country and also engaging policymakers and government by offering godly and genuine solutions to critical national and social issues. And that is why we are here today.

Beside me today is our National President, Dr. Sam Itina, our National Secretary, Mr. Philip Nwagereuo, and several other like-minded Christian Professionals.

MY PRESENTATION WILL BE IN FOUR PARTS:

1.        Case report from victims of the clash with reference to Nimbo, Uzo Uwani LGA, Enugu

2.        Socio-economic / security implications of the clashes

3.        Recommendations (1)     Socio-economic

4.        Recommendation (2)       Security

CASE PRESENTATION

1)        Account of the attack by Fulani herdsmen on Nimbo Uzo-Uwani L.G.A. Enugu State on Monday 25th 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 to 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 the 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 to 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.

2.        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)

a)        We say a capital NO to grazing reserve / route/ nomadism  for several reasons below

b)        It conflicts with the constitution, the land use act which vests the power of land ownership to governors / LG to be held in trust for the people.

c)        Federal Government cannot grab community land for private use while denying the community their means of livelihood.

d)        Nigeria has over 400 ethnic groups, why should one group’s economic interest be more important than the others.

e)        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!!

f)         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.

g)        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.

h)        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.

A.        Sambisia forest = 60, 000km2 (6 million hectares) only 500 – 600km square of which is a forest reserve should be converted into a national ranch when the insurgents have been eliminated.

a.         It will solve the security problem as it will no longer form a haven for terrorists.
Provides job/employment opportunities for the community and adjoining states of Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, and Jigawa.

–          Agro – allied industries can be established there for diary,beef and tannery processing.

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

SECURITY:

1)        Disarm all cattle herdsmen 

2)        Criminals to be arrested and prosecuted as a deterrent to others.

3)        Conflict resolution; inter communal dialogue especially at boundary areas.

4)        Real life Satellite imaging of conflict prone areas / border / use of drones to forestall attack.

5)        Decentralization of Nigeria Police with State policing / security outfit under the control of the Governor / CP.

6)        Cases of genuine ethnic cleansing should be referred to ICC by the affected communities.

7)        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 disarm 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