Accountability: Solution to Stop Incessant Killings and Violence

“THE RECENT KILLINGS, SHOW THAT THE SITUATION HAS PERSISTED AND APPEARS TO BE APPROACHING ANARCHY, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT AND SECURITY FORCES HAVE STRUGGLED TO DO LITTLE OR NOTHING TO PREVENT, INVESTIGATE, OR HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE”

Attacks

Nigerians woke up on January 1, 2018, the start of the new year, to stories of slaughter and killings by nomadic herdsmen against farmer communities, taking place in Benue State. While people were still recovering from the shock, more reports trickled in about other attacks in other communities in the State. Killings in Taraba, Kaduna and Rivers State, only added more dead victims to the bloody week that was playing out.

The killings in Benue State within the short period of time, were most horrific and the number of people that lost their lives was quite alarming. So far 73 bodies that were recovered, were offered a mass burial on 11 January, 2018 at a solemn ceremony held in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, held to condemn the killings and offer a dignified funeral for the dead victims.

Statistics

Based on Crisis Group research into the incessant conflict between pastoralists (herders) and agrarian (farming) communities, about 2,500 people died in 2016. A review of media reports in 2017, show that at least 400 people were killed in these kinds of clashes across Nigeria. With more in-depth study, it is likely that the numbers are much higher. Looking at the number of those killed just in the first week of 2018 at 152 people across Nigeria, the situation has definitely escalated to a more dangerous level, which if not curtailed will have far-reaching consequences on stability and protection of life and property in the country.

While there have been reported clashes, reprisal attacks, which have led to deaths by both sides on this conflict; the evidence seems to show farming communities bearing the most casualties, especially as a result of the characteristics of the communities.

Herders, normally rearing cattle are predominantly nomadic, moving from one area to the other, seeking vegetation for the cattle. Farmers are sedentary, owning and working on land for agriculture, and living within or near to their farmlands. A major allegation that has been levelled against the herders, is that they immediately move away from scenes of attacks, making it difficult to identify and track those who have committed these atrocities.

The new year attacks were not a sudden occurrence. For many years, these clashes between herders and farmers have taken place. Between 2016 and 2017, Amnesty International observed that 17 (Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Cross river, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara), out of the 36 States in Nigeria experienced violence as a result of clashes between herders and farmers. While some have argued that this is not a communal clash due to the distinct nature of the two groups, and the fact that some attacks have been isolated without any link to previous contestation; However, the kind of inter- communal violence in each State in Nigeria also differs, depending on which region they are located. The North-Central region (also known as Middle Belt region), where Benue is located, experiences more clashes than the South-West region for example.

Some Reasons for Clashes

Several reasons may be adduced for these herdsmen and farmers clashes. Some opinion leaders have argued that it is a fight for territory, control of land, and access to land and water resources. Herders need water and grass for their cattle, farmers within the different State boundaries, plant their seeds hoping for a good harvest. That will not happen, if cattle run into their farms, eat their budding crops and greatly reduce their chance of reaping crops atm harvest time. On both sides, it is a question of livelihood, economic survival and access to resources. For herdsmen, their approach to cattle rearing, follows traditional routes their ancestors have followed to rear their cattle, thereby creating a tension with more sedentary CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

communities who have secured their lands based on their own historical ties to the land.

The increase in the attacks in the last years, can also be linked to effects of climate change with drought and other causes reducing the amount of vegetation these routes provide, leading to further incursion to other areas.

Cattle rustling or theft of cattle, has also contributed to the distrust within the communities, and led to use of violence to settle real and perceived threats. An emerging trend, is the use of arms to settle quarrels. With the attacks in Benue and other parts of the country, we are seeing an increase in the use of weapons indiscriminately and with impunity.

In addition to killings, other violence has been recorded, such as maiming, threats, burning of houses, and rape of women and girls. Thousands of people have been internally displaced, increasing the number of IDPs in the country. The cost of the inter-communal violence is high. The value and quality of life in affected communities, is directly affected with people living in fear of being attacked. Socio-economic opportunities are limited, as destruction of property goes unpunished and peoples’ livelihoods are threatened.

Both sides have each indicated that they made complaints to law enforcement agents, when they experienced a wrong or when a community member was killed. However, no one has ever been held to account for the many murders committed in these conflicts. If there have been successful investigations and prosecutions of these alleged complaints, the results are not visible, and the kind of intervention the Government of Nigeria has consistently applied, is to visit affected areas and issue proclamations condemning the attacks.

Need for a Plan In December 2017, the Government initiated a series of national consultations to find a long-term solution to the conflict in Nigeria. While Nigerians and the international community wait for the results of these consultations, one thing is clear, a plan must be put in place, to prevent these attacks from happening in the first place, as a shortterm measure. The new year killings, show that the perpetrators believe they are above the law. In order to address this, the Government needs to take steps to end the clashes when they are occurring, apprehend the perpetrators, and prosecute them and their sponsors where applicable. The killings are not only murder, they are a violation of a person’s right to life as provided in Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Nigerian Government therefore, has international obligations to respect and protect the life and ensure the security of every person within its territory.

Recommendations To the Nigerian Government to ensure that

by herders or farmers or other State or non- State actors in the bloody violence in Nigeria, are investigated.

effective policing and security, to prevent future attacks in targeted areas and secure fragile areas

promptly into allegations of human rights in all situations, with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice

to comply with the UN Basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials, and ensure that when the military are deployed for policing duties that they apply these principles

victims of this violence, including the families of those killed.

allegations of the violence including gender sensitive approaches, are adopted to support reporting of all violations as a result of the clashes.

human) are made available to the respective justice institutions, in order to enhance their function and effectiveness.

is alleged as a result of action or inaction of security agencies, that proper investigation and disciplinary measures are taken.

Conclusion The recent killings show that the situation has persisted and appears to be approaching anarchy, because the Government and security forces have struggled to do little or nothing to prevent, investigate, or hold the perpetrators accountable. In order to stop this worsening situation from further deteriorating and compounding the already fragile stability in the region, urgent and practical steps must be taken to entrench a culture for the respect of law and order and resource a justice system.

Note: As at 12 January, 2018, preliminary investigations by Amnesty International show that in 2018, the following people have been killed in Benue (80), Taraba (66), Adamawa (5) and Ondo (1) as a result of herdsmen and farmers clashes.

Ossai Ojigho, Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria