Seemingly unending herdsmen/farmers clashes
Traditionally, Fulani herdsmen make random movement with the primary aim of getting abundant grass and water for their cattle. The Fulani herding system is characterized by division of labour by gender and age among the members of the family, with the mandate to manage the herd, find grazing sites and build tents and camps.
Women in the herding system take on traditional roles such as sourcing food items in the market, milking cows, weaving and mat making while others engage in farming.
The quest to find grazing sites for the cattle of the Fulani herdsmen basically see them move in droves, searching for greener pastures across the country where most of them set new settlements.
This quest has led to interactions with natives of various communities and farmers. Some of the interactions have however, ended in clashes resulting in destruction of lives and property.
In most cases, while trying to manage the herd, cattle grazing on farmlands have brought about destruction of crops, resulting in unending feud between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria.
While many believe that it is simply farming, grazing land and search for water that create dispute between herdsmen and farmers who accuse them of destroying their crops out of failure to control their animals, the Fulani under the Cattle Breeders Association claim that they are being attacked by militias from farming communities.
Over the years, Nigeria has recorded high rate of violence and death related cases through this conflict which has claimed many lives and destruction of property with devastating effect.
The result of these conflicts has also affected the economy with experts indicating a drop in internally generated revenue of affected States, reduction in crop yield and displacement of people who now find new havens in internally displaced camps where they are now more like “refugees” in their own Country.
The most recent of the dreaded effect of this conflict is the fresh attacks launched at communities in Benue State which forced the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to relocate to the State to put an end to the seemingly unending herdsmen/Farmer conflicts that has left pain, misery and violence in its wake.
Solutions are being proffered by elder statesmen, security agencies and experts advising the Federal Government on the best way to finding a lasting resolution to the trend.
Dialogue and mediation by community leaders is the best way to end the crises. Also another significant factor is the role traditional rulers’ play in interacting with their respective subjects.
It is the hope of every Nigerian that the conflict is resolved soonest enough to avoid further loss of lives and property which is seen to be one of the major hindrances to socio-economic development. Hajara Suleiman, IBBU, Lapai, Niger State.