By Julius Oweh
The recent unprovoked
killings of some people in Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen despite the
information given to the police and other security operatives by the state
governor is another ugly chapter of the sordid saga of some herdsmen operating
under the veneer of terrorism. The implications are grave for the
corporate existence and unity of the nation. It is beyond mere transfer of the
state police commissioner. All those in position of authority either by their
action or inaction that led to the genocide should be sanctioned with the
relevant laws of the land. These brutality, lawlessness and terrorism can no
longer be tolerated as the occupational hazards of some pastoralists.
*Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ugwuanyi, visiting the scene massacre in Nimbo |
This is a trying
period for the Buhari administration. A lot of noise is currently polluting the
media space whether these terrorists are Fulani or not. The issue is whether
they are Isoko herdsmen, Yoruba herdsmen or Ijaw herdsmen, the law should be
applied and the government should not give us the faintest impressions that
some people are above the law. The Northern Governors Forum recently
issued a statement about the menace of herdsmen and argued that it was an
insult to state that the herdsmen are Fulani. They also maintained that they
were not comfortable with generalisations of the activities of these herdsmen.
The greater insult is
that by that statement, the northern governors are putting the unity and
corporate existence of this country under great strain. Criminality should be
condemned for what it is and should not be given cover because of ethnic
affiliations. This is not the first time the Fulani herdsmen are committing
havoc in the nation. They did that in the south west, the killings in Benue State and recently in Delta State that spurred Deltans to protest the
activities of these herdsmen in the state. Why are the herdsmen carrying
dangerous weapons like AK47? The truth of the matter is that the average Fulani
herdsman bearing arms is supported by influential businessman and political
elite.
And until these people
see the implications of what these messengers of death are doing, we shall
continue to witness the murderous activities of these herdsmen in bid to
protect their cattle. In their twisted philosophical formulation, their cattle
are more important than human lives. A civil war is brewing in the cauldron and
this is time for the government to act. I do not want to believe that Buhari is
not taking tough action because those involved are his kinsmen. I am also not
persuaded by the argument that the Fulani herdsmen are trying to complete the
expansionist ambition of Uthman Dan Fodio. Nigeria is rather too advanced for such local
imperial ambition.
That is why the
president should move beyond giving orders to the Inspector General of Police
and the heads of the military to disarm the Fulani herdsmen bearing arms. A
more decisive action like the ones used against the Boko Harm or the Niger
Delta militants should be directed at these herdsmen. They do not have the
authority to bear arms and use same to harm people in their own land. Just as
the police are very zealous in dealing with people with unlicensed double
barrel guns, any person other than the security operatives carrying arms should
be seen as criminals. It is this kid gloves treatment given to these herdsmen
that make them think they are above the law and could go scot free with their
criminal activities. Should this menace continues, there are grave implications
for the nation. Already some people in the south are resorting to self help. In Abia State , the
governor has given order to the restoration of the famous Bakassi Boys. In the
south west, the OPC had vowed to protect her people and territory.
Some militants in the
Niger Delta had also promised to give these herdsmen a raw deal. Thus, in most
parts of the South and Middle Belt, the Fulani herdsmen have overstayed their
welcome. I do not support this recourse to self help when we have well
established police and security operatives. The government should not abdicate
its sole responsibility which is the security and welfare of the citizens.
Those who are in the business of animal husbandry should establish ranches for
their animals. That we still have cattle roaming our streets and farmlands is
clear advertisement of the backward nature of our economy. Equally laughable is
the intention to establish grazing routes and this will eventually give
legitimate stamp to the lawlessness and brutality of the herdsmen. There is
simply no alternative to the establishment of ranches. As for the Enugu genocide, a commission of inquiry
should be set up and those culpable should face the wrath of the law.
As for those still in
doubt about the identity of the herdsmen, one of them caught with gory pictures
of the dead people on his phone has proved that. True that governor of Enugu State as the chief security was weeping on
getting to the site of the pogrom. The president as the father of the nation
ought to visit Enugu State and pass a powerful message about his
hatred towards criminality. It is not too late to show leadership. And this he
must do by devoting the same energy and drive in fighting the Boko Haram
insurgency to taming the menace of the Fulani herdsmen.
In that way, Nigeria may avoid the sprouting of another
terrorist group. As for those self serving northern governors defending the
activities of these criminals, they should realise that one day, their comfort
zone may be invaded by these marauders and blood sucking demons using the
activities of herding cattle to stab the very unity of the country. These
herdsmen are our common enemy and should be so treated.
*Mr. Julius Oweh,a
journalist,wrote from Asaba, Delta State .
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