Fulani Herdsmen and the killing in Nigeria

The recent killing by herdsmen in Nigeria has left most Nigerians in shock and anger, except for some government officials who have refused to condemn in strong terms the brutality been melted out on citizens in their ancestral lands. 

Scores have been reported dead, traditional leaders, chiefs, farmers, pregnant mother and even children have not been spare on these dastardly acts.

No fewer than ten persons were reportedly killed in two attack in villages in Birnin-Gwari local government of Kaduna State by Fulani herdsmen and according to an eye witness these attacks lasted for hours uninterrupted with these herdsmen killing and burning houses from village to village.

On New Year’s Day in Logo and Gumalga of Benue state over 80 people were reportedly killed by these Fulani herdsmen.

In southern Kaduna in Kaduna State a royal chief was killed with his pregnant wife, and that was follow with other mass murders by these herdsmen. Their grievance has been reported to be that their cattle’s were stolen and sometimes killed by villagers when they grazed in their farm lands. These same Suspected Fulani herdsmen also invaded Dangaji and Ungwan gajere villages in Kaduna State.

In 20I7 we had herdsmen killings in Abraka and Obiaruku in Delta State, in villages in Edo State, not to mention the rapes of women, both married and single, and the quantum destruction of farm land, crops and barns.

These killings and Fulani herdsmen invasions were also reported in Taraba State, Cross river State, Ekiti State and some eastern states in Nigeria last year.

As if that was not enough, in fresh suspected herdsmen attack in Benue, four persons have been killed in a another attack carried out by suspected herdsmen in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue state. 

Nigerian daily, The Nation reported that the state governor, Samuel Ortom , disclosed at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi when he received former military administrator of the State, retired Brigadier-General Dominic Oneya who came to pay him a condolence visit today January 17th.

In Benue state scores were buried in mass burial after burial rites at IBB square Makurdi Benue state.

According to Governor Ortom, two women had been reportedly killed in Guma and two persons in Logo, stressing that pockets of killings were still going on and reiterated his call on security agents to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore whom he said are still issuing threats of resisting implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment law in the state

Ak47 wading Fulani herdsmen have become untouchable as we are yet to see arrest been made by security force or accused been persecuted and made to face the full wrath of the laws of the land, so one is forced to ask if these herdsmen are above the law or invincible, or if they are just been protected by powers that be. 

What will a cattle rearer be doing with sophisticated weapon of military grades, where are these weapon purchased and who licensed these weapons to cattle rearers?

These Fulani herdsmen has requested for grazing colonies in states paid for by the government, one is forced to asked where on earth does government pay for private business. The Miyetti-allah cattle breeders association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has accused host communities of stealing their cows and killing them hence these attacks. These herdsmen feel offended when their businesses (cows) are killed or stolen but expect farmers and villagers whose crops and farm land are destroyed, whose women (sisters, wives and mothers) are raped to be immune to offense.

Major Christian religious leaders around Nigeria had risen up to condemn these attacks and this include Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel worldwide who asked the Heart aching questions of "If cattle business is government business", "How much cattles contributes to the Nigeria GDP", "If men, women and children should continue to lay down their lives for cattle", "How many cattle does a Fulani cattle rearer need to sell to purchase an AK47 rifle" etc. 

Dr Paul Eneche of Dunamis army Abuja, Apostle Johnson Suleman of omega fire ministry have all risen to condemn these attacks and raised critical question that are yet unanswered by the government and security agents of Nigeria.

With the battle been waged on the terrorist group Boko Haram, the inscription of terrorist tag on the indigenous people of Biafra, one would have expected the government of the ruling All Progressive Congress to condemn in strong terms these attack and major arrest made but till date these herdsmen have not been tagged terrorist or major arrest made. This has prompted another school of thoughts to tag these attacks as Islamic jihad been carried out against Christians and the forceful spread of Islam in Nigeria .

While we wait for major arrest to be made by the security agencies in Nigeria one is only hopeful for a safer Nigeria where Fulani herdsmen murders and invasion will be a thing of the past.