HERDSMEN VERSUS FARMERS: THE
REAL ISSUE AND THE WAY FORWARD
CALLISTUS, Agozie Ifedi.
callistusifedi@gmail.com
09024338386text only). visit my blog www.callistusifedi.blogspot.com
Introduction
For years, different stories,
theories and scenarios have been told, propounded and created with regards to
the problem of Herdsmen and farmers all over Nigeria; so much that it has
become attracted the international community. They leave the community they
have visited with their arms in disarray, mourning and weeping. Even in the
face of the sorrowful and pitiable state they leave the community in, the
government seems not to care. While the Federal Government of Nigeria through
the Secretary to the Federal Government and other personnel (of course with the
exclusion of President Buhari) has maintained the stand that the Herdsmen are
immigrants from outside Nigeria and not of Fulani tribe, some others like Femi
Fani-Kayode, Chief Olu Falae and a larger extent of farmers (my area inclusive)
are of the view that these rampaging herdsmen are of Fulani ancestry. This
piece looks into the activities of the herdsmen in Nigeria, decries these
activities and then suggests solutions that may check the evil from running
into bigger mess.
The Issues:
One can imagine the pains of a farmer who, having concluded
all pre-farming and post-farming processes, awaits the time of harvest only to
be shocked by the action of the denizens of the underworld called herdsmen, who
lead their cattle into the farmlands with a singular purpose of destruction. It
is very saddening that one's weeks of labour come crashing in less than 30
minutes. It is worthy of note that the soles of the feet of these animals as
they move are more than enough to wreck havoc on farmlands and more so, due to
the farming system in some areas, especially where there are only but
foot-paths leading to and inside the farms, it is imperative that the cattle,
must have to mash the crops, considering their numbers and the just one or two
herdsmen, who got their back.
But then what is the real
issue? Why the attacks in the first place? There appears not to be a definite
answer in this regard. There are claims and counter claims arising from
different groups. Thus the farmers argue that the cattle damage their crops. A
farmer's hope thus dashed, he eats agony for meals and then may resort to self
help either by slaughtering the cows or poisoning them as he sees these as the
only solution that he has in the face of such senseless and wanton destruction
of the crops he sweated upon to plant. Just days ago, an Hausa farmer posted
pictures of his farm that was destroyed by cattle. His questioned the rationale
behind terming youths lazy. The same rationale that would ask the youths to go
back to the farms, but then only for cattle to do what they do best – destroy!
But then the Fulani herdsmen
argue that they are being attacked by the community and that their cattle have
been stolen on a countless number of times. They contend that they have made
complaints to relevant authorities but to no avail. To this effect, they take up arms in defense
of themselves. But then it becomes unfortunate that many lives have been lost
in this debacle.
In order to understand the
evil and the extent to which these herdsmen have gone, we need to understand
their place in the world. Thus the global Terrorism index in 2015 ranked Fulani
militants the fourth deadliest militant group in the world. And according to
Institute for Economics and peace, the Fulani militants killed about 63 persons
in 2013, about 1,229 people in 2014. Of course these killings continued even
this year. And their most recent attacks this year is that of Ossissa Community
in Ndokwa east Local government Area in Delta State, and those of Ugondo, Turan
and Gabo Nenzev of Logo Local government Area in Benue State. We are also aware
of their attacks in Enugu state.
WHY DOES THE ATTACK PREVAIL?
It is then not surprising why
these attacks keep increasing by day and unabated. It is then very important
that we list some factors which contribute to these attacks. First is the lackadaisical
attitude of the security personnel. They do not take these attacks seriously.
This is confirmed by the late response from them. We are not unaware of the
allegation trailing Agatu attack, where the police got Intel of the situation
but because their hands were tied by some power blocs above, they couldn’t
foist the attack. Another factor is the
indifferent attitude of the government. They have failed to put preventive but
pragmatic measures to check these excessive attacks. Thus this attitude exposes
the Nigerian government, as insensitive, who has interest only in repairing the
damages rather than prevention. Moreover we see ethnicity as another factor
that keep this anomaly unchecked. Thus, if the federal government decides to
take harsh action against these herdsmen, you will not be surprised to see some
elders from Fulani extraction condemning the government. Worse still, some of
them may go to the extent of wrongly advising the president, telling him that
things are not really as bad as the media paints it. Furthermore, we see
impunity as another factor. The fact that the government has seeming soft spot
for them is enough encouragement. The herdsmen always believe that they would
go unpunished after all, that their ‘Ogas-at-the-top’;
the real owners of the cattle got their backs. Finally we see bad orientation
of the Fulani herdsmen as a factor. They have this mind-set that their cattle
worth more than the lives of men. Thus, they go extra-mile to secure them.
It is discovered that these
herdsmen use sophisticated weapons. And not just that they kill, they also
kidnap. The recent attacks on Catholic priests and different other reported and
unreported attacks on innocent citizens without provocation has raised so many ethical
and political issues.
- The issue of the real identity of the herdsmen. The question is,
if these men are not Fulani herdsmen, who are they? While the farmers and
majority of other stakeholders have taken the stand that these marauders
are of Fulani extraction.
- The issue of indifference of the government. It is not clear if these herdsmen are
Fulanis, or Boko Haram or even foreign immigrants. Whichever, why has the
government of the day not done anything to arrest these illegal immigrants
and elements of Boko Haram? The President and the Presidency seem
indifferent to this debacle. The press releases of the President, most especially
in that of 1st October, the only mention of herdsmen was in the paragraph
where he just subtly mentioned "herdsmen vs farmers" while he
cast endless aspersions on the Niger Delta militants. Why has the
President not made a nationwide broadcast condemning the actions and activities
of the herdsmen?
- The issues of acquisition of arms. One wonders from where the
herdsmen get the sophisticated weapons? Are there some hidden agenda or
conspiracies hidden from the glare of the public?
- The issue of misplaced value. Is the life of cattle more important
than that of a Nigerian? Apart from these ethical and political dimensions
listed above, there is also economic dimension in terms of the effects of
the unchecked attacks of the Fulani herdsmen. They include Loss of
investors, Reduction of crop yield, Loss of lives and properties, and
Destruction of buildings
SUGGESTIONS
In order to find lasting
solution to this situation, this piece suggests a few ways out of this problem.
Firstly, this piece agrees with much suggested view on the establishment of
cattle ranches across the northern part of the country as this will put paid
the senseless killings of innocent people in cold blood and the destruction of
farmlands.
Secondly, the government has
to firstly, in a clear and strong worded national broadcast condemn the actions
of these herdsmen and then go extra miles in arresting the herdsmen and then,
unmasking the true identities of the Cattle owners, and either prosecute them
or depot them (assuming it is true that they are not Nigerians).
Thirdly, there is need for
the government to secure the border. This comes on the heels of the allegation
that the perpetrators aren’t Nigerians. if this is the case, the government
should fasten their belt and tighten up the border policy against the foreigners
who come to Nigeria to kill and destroy.
Furthermore, there is need to
recreate or deconstruct the minds of these herdsmen. They should be taught that
life is sacred and that no amount of love they have for their cows would
surpass the value in human person.
Moreover, there should be
adequate laws that will deter the encroaching on farmlands by herdsmen. This in
connection with the first suggestion would go a long way in putting these
attacks to a dead end.
Finally and most importantly,
there is need for negotiation between host community and Fulani herdsmen. This
meeting will establish working modalities that would guide the affairs of both
the herdsmen and the communities they settle.
If these suggestions are
seriously considered by government and relevant bodies, we believe that things
will work out for the better. God bless Nigeria!
Callistus Writes from Ukpo.
5th October, 2016.
