Thousand
have been killed, many have been made homeless, many others live in fear not
knowing whose turn it will be tomorrow, yet the people whom we waited under
rain and sunshine just to elect into office don’t seem to care. Fulani are not
the only people in Africa who practice normadism, yet we haven’t heard stories
of Massais and other herdsmen killing unharmed citizens of their countries.
Who they are:
Fulani are largely nomads who move from their homes in the North southward in
search of grazing areas from their cattle. This is basically as a result of low
rainfall experienced in Northern Nigeria resulting in scarcity of grasses in
these areas hence the need for them to migrate down south. In the course of
their movement from one place to the other, they have reportedly encountered
cattle rustlers and complained to authorities who failed to investigate the
issue hence their purported reason for carrying arms. In the course of their
migration they also trespass farmland and attempt by farmers to resist them has
been met with violent resistance by the herdsmen.
The
frequency of recent attack however has led to concerns about the true
identities of these herdsmen. Some believe they may be Boko Haram members
trying to infiltrate other areas of the country under disguise as herdsmen,
others believe they are herdsmen from other parts of West Africa rather than
Fulani. Whoever they may be, we don’t care. All that worries us is that
Nigerians are being killed and the Government doesn’t seem worried. In fact following the February attack in
Benue state, the leadership of the Fulani group admitted that the attacks were carried
out by their members. I am more worried by the refusal of the president to
comment on the crisis, this is believed to be because he is also a Fulani so I
ask “did we elect him to be president of the Fulani’s alone?”
President
Muhammadu Buhari mandated that the Ministry of Agriculture set aside 50,000
hectares of land across the nation for the grazing of Fulani herdsmen’s cattle
and this has raised the question of whether these cattle are national projects
owned by the government. If not, then why can the owners of the cattle not be
mandated to obtain land for their cattle rearing business? Sincerely I am
tempted to think these killing activities are being sponsored by some people up
there who own the cattle and are able to influence government decision in their
favour.
As
much as I don’t wish to sing the praise of any of our leaders since they have
all failed us, I cannot but appreciate the boldness of Governor Ayodele Fayose
who has encouraged the people of Ekiti state to take up arms in self-defence,
if only other Governors can be this bold….
The
bottom line of my pain is I had always wanted to be posted to Kaduna State for
my youth service but right now, I don’t think I want to have anything to do
with northern Nigeria. I am not discriminating against any tribe, I just love
my life.
Rocky mountain
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