ADEZE OJUKWU
In 2015, the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) listed Fulani herdsmen as the fourth deadliest terrorist organisation in the world, even as its latest report named Nigeria as the third most terrorised country globally. This damning verdict is a profound assessment of the brutal and atrocious destruction of lives and property, allegedly perpetrated by the group across the West African sub-region, with Nigeria as the epicentre.
Since the January killings of Benue State indigenes, many others have been murdered or injured, while farms worth billions of naira, were destroyed allegedly by Fulani herdsmen in Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Plateau, Ogun, Delta, Abia, Ekiti and Delta States. The case of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, is pathetic as Fulani herdsmen kidnapped him two years ago, and razed down his farm for the second time a few days back. As a result of this relentless onslaught on innocent citizens, Nigerians have criticised and challenged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to classify Fulani herdsmen as terrorists, in tandem with their global status.
However, Federal Government is yet to assent to this demand. Indeed, gory reports of violent attacks and several crimes against humanity attributed to this group have escalated public outcry in national media discourse, particularly the social media. Of particular interest to this writer and most Nigerians is the apparent proclivity and frenzy for senseless and endless wastage of human lives by these cow rearers, with daily reports of gruesome slaughter of children, pregnant women and their foetuses, as well as the aged and security operatives.
What a shame! Where else can one see such bizarre butchery of humans by fellow citizens? Yet, the perpetrators of this crime against humanity and their backers are up in arms, mounting all kinds of illogical defenses for the carnage, from economic and environmental reasons to nomadic and socio-cultural idiosyncrasies. Nigerians, and the rest of the world, are watching with bated breath for the end of this national tragedy, that has turned the country into a killing field.
With this notoriety for bloodletting and standing justice on its head, the country is derided as ‘one of the shit-hole countries.’ The bloodbath and wanton destruction of lives and property, associated with nomadic shepherds have escalated to exponential proportions, with their uncensored access to firearms, including AK47 guns and other dangerous weapons to the shock of many. Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, could not have put it more succinctly when he stated: ‘They have declared war against the nation and their weapon is undiluted terror. Why have they been permitted to become a menace to the rest of us? That is the issue!’ In a recent statement tagged: ‘Impunity Rides Again,’ Soyinka blasted the Federal Government and security forces for their ineptitude on the unmitigated killings of citizens by herdsmen. This savagery has again dragged Nigeria to the international security radar, as many foreign bodies have been chiding the Buhari administration and its security apparatus for failure to protect citizens, the primary duty of any responsible and credible government. The European Parliament, in its recent resolution on the spate of violence in the country, asked Buhari to uphold the sanctity of human lives.
It deplored ‘the ongoing violence and attacks in northern Nigeria, whose targets have been Christian communities,’ and urged ‘government to focus on upholding human rights and dignity in all policies to ensure peaceful co-existence among citizens irrespective of their religion, beliefs and political affiliations.’
What an indictment from the EU. Obviously, as lamented by Benue State Governor Sam Ortom, ‘the killing spree has continued, despite the presence of security forces in the region, hence the vituperations from several quarters.
This orgy of violence and barbarity points to failure of leadership and security at the highest levels. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said ‘indeed, at no time in the recent past has the nation’s peace and unity been so vigorously and persistently challenged. However peace is the sine qua non for justice, hence the perpetrators must be fished out and punished, as a deterrent to others. This is the position of many socio-cultural and religious organisations notably Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Catholic Bishops, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Middle Belt and South South leaders.
These and other issues have dominated national discourse, but efforts are being made by the National Assembly and other interest groups to douse the tension and calamitous conflagration, due to the underlying religious and ethnic dimensions of the crises.
Meanwhile, prominent Nigerians, religious leaders, as well as several interest parties have continued to react to Federal Government’s apparent inability to halt the carnage and enunciate effective legal and security measures on modern animal husbandry. Secretary of CAN, Rev. Dr Musa Asakea, called on Nigerians to stoutly reject the cattle colony proposal, saying: ‘The Miyetti Allah organisation should be tagged a terrorist organisation. Its leaders should be arrested and prosecuted for the genocide against the Christian minorities in the Middlebelt.’
Obviously Buhari cannot legislate or pontificate about peace and unity, while equity and justice are undermined in all spheres of governance. No person or group has the right to overrun any community, under any guile or guise. It would simply be a declaration of war. It is unjust, illegal and inimical to internationally acceptable principles of human rights. These rights are inalienable and must be protected by Nigeria, as a signatory to this treaty. Clearly, the Benue massacre is a gross violation of the rights of Nigerian citizens to life and security. The recalcitrant demand to halt the anarchy is urgent. But the burning question is: Does Buhari have the moral courage and political will to rein in these Fulani herdsmen, given their kinship.
The buck stops at his table, as the president, It is in his interest and that of the nation to urgently stop this madness.
Ojukwu, an alumnus of United States (US)-sponsored Hubert H. Humphrey (HHH) Fellowship and journalist,writes via [email protected]