In defence of herdsmen

Clash between the herdsmen and the farmers is gradually becoming a national issue. This is because; it is surrounded with a lot of intrigues, accusations and counter accusations. The most annoying part of it is that it is bedevilled by regional and tribal sentiments.

Although, the previous governments in this country have failed woefully in protecting the lives and properties of her citizenry, it is only in Nigeria where somebody will commit a crime and get away with it. The only option frequently used by the government at best is to impose curfew and restrict movement in the affected areas and after sometime normalcy will return and then it will be dumped in the dustbin of history without paying attention to identify the root causes of the mayhem.

Meanwhile, in the case of Fulani and farmers clash, the root causes of it were so obvious that every reasonable and rational Nigerian should know. History has it that from time immemorial, the Fulani people are peaceful and that they live harmoniously with their host community. All they care about is their cows, they work all year round; in the rain, during the cold winter and under the scorching sun just to make sure they herd their cows properly. They never wanted any kind of luxury and enjoyment as long as their cows have enjoined. The only weapon they knew was the machete and stick.

The question here is how do these peaceful, lowclass and unarmed people suddenly become armed and form their militia? Is this armed militia for offensive or defensive or both? These are issues that should have been addressed from the onset.

Furthermore, there was a cattle route known as the burtali, which was purposely built across the country particularly in northern Nigeria for the herdsmen to pass in search for greener pasture for their animals. So where is this burtali?

In view of the above, as far as I am concerned, the main needle that unearths this big plough is the encroachment of this burtali by the farmers in their quest and competition for big farm.

Secondly, it is the farmers that started killing the herdsmen and cart away their animals perhaps because they passed through their farms.

Expectedly, people that these Fulani surrendered everything for the betterment of their animals started devising means of protecting their animals. Consequent upon which they become armed and some bad element within their midst started using that advantage for criminal activities.

So the fundamental issue is government failure, not necessarily the fault of the herdsmen. The only problem to some extent is lack of tolerance from the farmers, aggressiveness from the bad element among the herdsmen, because jungle justice is never the best alternative way of dispute resolution, and lack of sincerity and political will from the government to bring the lingering menace to halt.

Isiyaku Muhammed, Hayin Banki, Kaduna isiyakumuhammed@yahoo. com