Nigerian President Breaks Silence over Fulani Herdsmen Rampage

President Muhammadu Buhari finally broke his silence over the bloody rampage of armed herdsmen around the country. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that the President had directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, and the heads of other security agencies to “take all necessary measures” to end the attacks and bring their perpetrators to book.

This was the directive that victims of these attacks, community leaders, the media and many concerned Nigerians had pleaded with the President to make, long before the invasions and massacre of defenceless Nigerians in Agatu community in Benue State and Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, but to no avail. It took the distress call that the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi paid to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, before the Commander – in – Chief acted. Since the President issued the directive, things appear to be moving in a positive direction. Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have already paid a solidarity visit to Ugwuanyi, and the security agencies that had all along played deaf and dumb to the distress calls of victims have roused themselves.

It is sad that the Federal Government’s decisive actions against the Boko Haram insurgents, Biafra agitators, the Shiite Islamic sect in Zaria, pipeline vandals and Niger Delta militants, were not extended to the herdsmen who killed, raped, kidnapped, and harassed innocent citizens while also driving people from their lands and leading their animals to devour the products of farmers’ sweat and toil. The failure of the Federal Government and its security agencies to respond with despatch to this menace worsened the already tense atmosphere among Nigeria’s diverse ethno-religious groups.

It has fuelled anger and suspicion against nomadic Fulani pastoralists who have over the years grazed their animals through indigenous communities unmolested because they never threatened anyone as they now do. We hope the President will match his words with decisive action and ensure the disarming of the militias and their treatment according to our laws. He should also explore all available modern options to ensure that herdsmen are settled in their own self – financed ranches, as that is the only way both the herdsmen and their animals can experience better life.

Let us also remind the President that his administration’s pledge to diversify the economy through farming will not succeed if the Fulani herdsmen continue to disturb the farmers. Apart from possible reprisal actions, we cannot expect more people to take to farming when farmers and their farm products are not safe from the insurgents.