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International Committee On Nigeria (ICON) 4130 El Dorado Court Brookfield, WI 53005
P: 414.255.7660 E: [email protected] ICONHelp.org
International Committee
On Nigeria
November1,2017
TheNigerianCondition:Farmers,Herdsmen&Politics
Introduction
Fromthebeginningoftime,humanrelationshipshavedefinedcultures,societiesand
nations.Nigeriawascarvedfromseveralcultures,peoplegroups,languagesandenvironmental
regions.AsthelargestpopulatedcountryinAfrica,Nigeriaisforecastedtohaveapopulation
ofover190millionanditisoftensaidthatoneoutofeveryfiveAfricansisaNigerian1.
NigeriaobtainedindependencefromtheBritishColonialgovernmentin1960.Yet,due
tomilitaryexploitation,Nigeriasufferedundermilitarydictatorshipfornearly30years,which
havecrippledattemptstowardseffectivedemocracyandhavebeenaggravatedbycasesof
humanrightsabuses.
TheProbleminNigeria
Nigeria’sfragileexistencehasimpacteditsunityinternallyandglobally.Theyearshave
beenfraughtwithconflictsandcrisesand,assuch,thereislimitedintegrationandeconomic
cooperation.Thesecanbeconsideredcrimesagainsthumanity,orsimplyathreattohuman
dignity.
1Theymakepredictionsbasedonlastknowndatafrom2006,see“Report2016:NationalPopulation
Estimates”whichispublishedbyNigerianNationalBureauofStatistics.
SinceNigeria’sIndependence,humaninteractionshavebeenmetwithtensionand
conflict.Nigeriahaswitnessedvariousethnicandsectariancrises.TheproblemsinNigeriaare
numerousrangingfrom:humanrightsabuses,landdisputes,religiousintolerance,political
marginalization,terroristactivities,resourcecontrol,economicretardation,weakinstitutions,
lackofpatriotism.Specifically,theseissueshaveledtoincreasedtensionsbetweenfarmersand
pastoralnomadism,ethnicviolenceanddeepenedfaultlines.
Nigeriahaswide-ranginganddevastatingconflicts:BokoHaramterroristsravagingthe
NorthEasternareasofNigeriatryingtoimposeIslamiccontrol,continuedmilitancyintheoil
regionoftheNigerDelta,andtheIslamicShiitesinKadunawhoarerefusedthefreedomto
worshipinKadunaState.Inthispaper,wearefocusingonthecontinuousarmedconflicts
betweenlocalfarmersandFulaniherdsmenhaveledtocountlessdeathsandaccusationsof
blamefrombothlocalfarmers,aswellasFulaniherdsmen.
TheriskofescalationishighowingtoconstantmigrationofHerdsmenmovingtheir
herdssouthwardtograzebecauseofdesertencroachmentandthedepletingwatering
locations,suchastheLakeChadbasin.Wehaveseenhowthelawenforcementhasbeen
unabletoprotectbothlocalfarmersandtheFulanifromthisincessanthostilityandkillings.
InJanuary2017,theNorthernGovernor’sForum(NGF)ofNigeriaconveyedtheir
intentiontoworkwithappropriatestakeholderstoprotectNigeria’sbordersandregisterFulani
immigrantswhoenterwiththeircattle(Durojaiye,“FulaniHerdsmen…”).TheNigerianNational
BureauofStatisticsmaintainsimmigrationreportsofdocumentedpersonswhopassthrough
theircontrolposts(i.e.eitheroneofthe114landbordersoratoneofthe5airports),buthave
notprovidedtheestimatesofthosewhoareundocumented2.Infact,itonlyreportsthat
2Thedocument,“ImmigrationStatistics(2013-2016):August2017Report”,isinterestingasitreportsthat
therearemorecomingintoNigeriathandeparting,that,“TheImmigrationStatisticsfrom2013to2016reflectedthatatotalof1,822,501personsarrivingNigeriawereprocessedbytheImmigrationin2016asagainst3,275,929personsprocessedin2015.1,209,897ofthepersonwereNigeriannationalswhiletheremaining612,604wereNon-Nigerian.Similarly,atotalof1,659,624personsdepartingNigeriawereprocessedbytheImmigrationin2016asagainst3,600,934personsprocessedin2015.1,181,211ofthepersonwereNigeriannationalswhiletheremaining478,413wereNon-Nigerian.”
75,000“non-Nigerians”enteredin2016throughlandborders,whereasover500,000entered
viaoneoftheairports.
Individualslongingtocontributetotheirlocalcommunityandthelargersocietyare
oftenoppressedorhavetheirhumanrightsabused.Thelimitationofstateinstitutionsand
othercivilsocietygroupsarefailingtopromoteindividualrights,butevenunderstanding
federallawsimpedetheprosperityofhumanityinNigeria.Wemustask,Howcanindividuals,
whoarecitizensofNigeria,flourishwithinthestructureoftheirgovernment?
PastoralistsarecomprisedofthemajoritynomadicFulaniherdsmen,whomigratealong
withtheirherdsseasonally.Theyrarelyclaimnationalallegianceandoftenhavenospecific
homeland.Yet,afterthejihadledbyUsmanDanFodiointhe19thCentury,theywereoften
assimilatedintoNigeriancultureunderthetitleHausa-Fulani.
Sincethejihad,theseHausa-Fulaniherdsmencontinuedalongtheirmigrationand
returnrouteswithoutanysevereconflictswiththelocalfarmerstheycameincontactwith.
Minorconflictsoncropsdestructionbythecowsweresettledamicablywithsome
compensationpaid.Localfarmersafterharvestusuallyallowtheirherdstogleanthefarmfrom
thestalksoftheharvestedcropsandtherebyallowcow/goat/sheeptofertilizethelandwith
theirmanure.ThisunderstandingbetweenlocalfarmersandtheFulanihaschangedinthelast
twentyyearsasseveralclasheshavebroughtdeathstobothsides.
Since1999,whendemocracywasreturnedtoNigeriathesecrises,conflictsandevents
haveescalatedbecausethepoliticiansareholdingontopower.Theyaremanipulatingthelaws
andsecurityforces(e.g.police,military,etc.)tomaintaintheircontrol,therebyevenbenefitting
fromtheseterribleevents.Itisapparentthattheherdsmenpastoralistandlocalfarmersdonot
evenknowtheirrightsnortheresponsibilitiesoftheiractions.Theconstitutionprotectsand
evenpunishesNigeriancitizensfromtheLocal,totheStateallthewaytotheNationallevel.In
themidstofalltheseabuses,individualsandcommunitiesarevictimsandneedtheirvoicesto
beheard.Thereareoffenderswhoneedtobebroughttojustice–fromthebackerstothe
perpetrators.
Foryears,therehasbeenanongoingfeudbetweennomadicherdsmenandlocal
farmers,inNigerianStateslike:Benue,Kaduna,Taraba,Plateau,Enugu,Ekiti,Nassarawaand
Bauchi3.Thelocalfarmershaveaccusednomadicherdsmenofchasingthemfromtheir
farmland,whilenomadicFulaniherdsmensaythevillagersharassandattackthem.Theblame
andtheconflictsgoesonandon.Thesearepreventable.
InaninterviewwiththeNigerianPremiumTimes,SalehBayeri,(aFulaniwhoisthe
InterimNationalSecretaryofGanAllahFulaniAssociation)roseindefenseofhispeople,saying
theconflictinAgatu,BenueStatewasareprisalattackbyhispeople,theFulani,againstthe
AgatuswhoheaccusedofakillingofaprominentFulaniman.IntheinterviewBayeriinferred
that,“The[recent]bloodyconflictinBenuewasareprisalattackbyhispeople[Fulani]…the
Agatu[farmers]”,whoheinfersweretheaggressors(Mayah,“EXCLUSIVE…”).Thefighting
destroyedpropertyandkilledhundredsinthefarmingcommunity.
Wherethereislawandordereveryoneisprotected.Thelawprotectseverycitizenand
eachforeignerinNigeria.Nigeria'sConstitutionof1999generallypromisesequalityforeach
citizen.InChapterTwo,thisisdetailedbybystating,
TheStatesocialorderisfoundedonidealsofFreedom,EqualityandJustice.In
furtheranceofthesocialorder:everycitizenshallhaveequalityofrights,obligations
andopportunitiesbeforethelaw;thesanctityofthehumanpersonshallberecognized
andhumandignityshallbemaintainedandenhanced(NigerianConst.amend.ch.2,art.
17,1-2a.-b.).
ForthenomadicFulanipastoralistherdsmenwhosecowsarestolen,thereisalawthat
prosecutesthoseperpetrators4.Forfarmerswhoselandswereintrudedandcropsdestroyed,
3ThisBBCarticlebyMartinPatienceisconciseandinformativeonthesubjectoftheherdsmenversusfarmer,seearticleathttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37021044
4Thisarticleshedslightonasignificantdevelopment(seehttps://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/no-identity-number-no-passport-2018-nis-boss/),buttherewereothervoiceswhocondemnedtheplanasadiversionforotherperpetrators(https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/221804-pan-yoruba-group-afenifere-condemns-northern-governors-plan-fulani-herdsmen.html)
therearelawsthatpunishtheoffenders(Unah,“Herdersvs.Farmers…”).Anytimeacrimeis
committedagainstanotherperson,theperpetratorsmustbeheldaccountable.Thereisno
justificationforanyindividualorgroupofindividualstotraveloutsidetheirhometoattack
anyone.Reprisalattacksshouldnothaveaplaceinamoderncivilizationwheredemocracyis
upheldasastandard.Theruleoflawmustsupportandguidetheprocesstowardsresolving
conflicts.
HopeinNigeria
ThelandthatlieswithinNigeria’sbordersisfullofresourcesandrichesthatcandevelop
individualsandprospertheentirenation…andbeyond.Eachregionhasrecordedsome
measureofeconomicgrowththroughbusinessesandindustries,butthemajorityofthe
populationisinvolvedintheinformalsector—suchaspettytrading,farmingandpastoralism.
Underlyingthepessimismthereishope.Nigeriahasabundanthumanandnatural
resourcesthatcancreatewealthforthemasses.Nigerianeedstohaveagroupofcommitted
Nigeriansandothernationalitiesthatwilljoinforces,resources,inordertogivevoicestothe
oppressedandminoritygroupsinNigeriaregardlessoftheirreligion,ethnicity,gender,creed,
andsocialorientations.
Thereneedstobeavisionthatwillcreateacommunitywhereruleoflawguidesevery
facetofsocietalinteractionsinNigeria.Onethatpromotesreligiousfreedom,humandignity,
rightstolive,andtheprotectionofthevulnerableagainstethnic/religiouspersecutionor
governmentinterference.
Thegoalshouldbetobuildcoalitionswithotherorganizationsacrossissuesthataffect
thevulnerableinNigeria.Createawarenessontheunderreportedcrimescommittedagainst
thoseoppressedandminoritygroupsinNigeria.Provideaccuratestatisticonkillings,
persecutions,faultlinesandotherdriversofviolenceinNigeria.
Thefrustrationhereisthatmanyindividualsarenotawareoftheirrightsstatedinthe
constitutionandmanymoredon’tunderstandtheabilitytobeararmsnorthepenaltiesof
usingsucharmstokillNigeriancitizens.Compoundingtheissueofrightsandpenaltiesthere
arepreconceivednotionsthatallFulaniaremilitantsandthattheyratethesameasBoko
Haram.
Thefailureofgovernmentandbyextension,lawenforcementandsecurityagents,have
allowedtheseconflictstocontinue.Thereshouldbeaforuminwhichtoaddressthese
concernsandholdtheNigeriangovernmentaccountable.Furthermore,theremustexista
situationthatpromotesaccuratereportingandaddressesthelegalimplicationsoftheconflicts,
whichincludepropertyandlife,inordertopromotetheprogresstowardsreconciliation.
Additionally,theremustbeopportunitiesforthevoicesthatprovideadvocacyforthe
oppressedandminoritygroupsinNigeriatobeheard.Thesevoicesshouldpromotefactand
datacollectionbyworkingwithconcernedinstitutionsandorganizationstoprovideinformation
forNigerianpolicymakersandtheinternationalcommunity-withtheaimofendingthe
hostilities.Bygivingavoicetoindividuals,publicopinionwillimproveandtherewillbe
influenceoverpolicyenforcement,therebyimprovinganddevelopingNigeria'spoliticaland
socialsystems.Thesevoicesshouldbenetworkedandincollaborationwithorganizationsand
institutionstoprovidelegal,social,physicalandmentalresourcesforvictims.
Individualsandcivilsocietyorganizationsshouldhavetheabilitytoseekjusticeand
compensationforvictimsbybringingtheircasestotheFederalGovernmentofNigeria,the
ECOWAScourtandtheInternationalCriminalCourtinTheHague.
Whenagovernmentdoesnotenforcetheexistinglawsorrefusestoprosecutethe
perpetrators,theysendamessagetothevictimsthattheyareunprotectedandthatcriminals
goawayunpunished.WhatwouldNigeriabecomeiftheNigeriangovernmentprosecutedthose
perpetratorswhoarearrestedbylawenforcement.
Yet,beforethatbecomesareality,theremustbeadrivetoeducatelocalcommunities
andencouragetheenforcementoflaws.Additionally,attentionisneededtoaddressborder
security,whichallowsforeignmercenariesthefreedomtoroam.Porousbordersaffectlaw
enforcementagentswhomustimpedeIllegalarmsintoNigeria.Wemustnotbeafraidtoask
criticalquestionsandpromotejusticeforthevictimsandtheperpetratorsofviolence.
Recently,MallamNasirElRufai,theGovernorofKadunaState,hasmadestatementstothe
mediathatshouldleadtothearrestofviolentherdsmen5.Yet,theresponseofthegovernment
andthosewhohavebeenaffectedisnegligible.Overall,thehumanitariancrisishasbeenpoorly
managedasvictimshavelosttheirsourceofincome,theirfamilyhomes,thelivesofloved
ones,childrenwhoareoutofschool,andmanywhoareinternallydisplaced.
Hospitalsandpublichealthclinicsinthesecommunitieshavebeenruinedand
numerousreligiousworshipcentersdestroyed.Thesepersistentclashesbetweenlocalfarmers
andpastoralistherdsmeninthevariousStatesacrossNigeriahaveledtoanti-grazinglawbills.
Conclusion
NigerianStateslikeEkiti,BenueandTarabahavepassedtheanti-grazingbill.Theselegal
developmentspointtothefactthatfarmincursionbythenomadicFulaniherdsmenisavitally
relevantissue.Thenorth-centralregionofNigeriaiswheretheconflictisworst,isalsothefood
basketofNigeria.Thereisathreatthatafaminewilldevelopasaresultoffarmerswhoselands
havebeenseized,destroyedorunabletoreturntofarming.
Theinabilitytohandlesuchconflicts,migrationandthesubsequenthumanplightwill
begintodevastateNigeriaand,inturn,theAfricancontinent.Iftheconflictsbetweenfarmers
andpastoralistscontinue,itcouldleadtoNigeria’scollapseand,byimplicationAfrica,too.
TheworldhashadenoughofthecrisesinYemen,Iraq,Syriaandmigrationissuesin
Europe.IftheBokoHaramattacks,Deltaoilcrises,BiafrasecessionandFulani/Farmersconflict
5Tohisbenefit,GovernorEl-RufailistedhisthreestepstostabilizesecurityinSouthernKaduna:(1)
Restorepeaceandnormalcythroughenhancedsecurity,(2)Prosecuteallthoseinvolved(“Nopeacewithoutjustice”)(3)Peacebuilding–bringcommunitiestogether.https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/221231-el-rufai-outlines-3-steps-permanently-end-southern-kaduna-violence.html
areallowedtogrow,therewillbeamassivedominoeffectstemmingfromNigeriaandspilling
intotheinternationalcommunity.
If190millionpeopleareinconflict,turmoilcouldrunbeyondAfricaandintoEurope.
ThereisasignificantdiasporacommunityofNigeriansacrossEuropethatcouldbeaffectedand
thepotentialimpactcouldbeenormousifthisrisingcatastropheisnottackled.
Whatcanwedotoaddresstheseexistingconflictsandimpendingcrisis?
1. Individualsandorganizationsthatareworkingtoensureinternationalnormsonhuman
rightsprotectioniskeptbyallparties.
2. Theremustbeprosecutionofthosebearersofillegalweapons
3. Prosecutionofthosewhokilland/ordestroyother’slivesand/orproperty.
4. EstablishmentofMiddleBeltCommission/Envoythatwillrehabilitatethebrutalized
citizensacrossthedivides.
5. EmboldentheInternationalcommunitytoprevailonNigeria’sNational,StateandLocal
Governmentstoupholdhumanrightsobligations.
6. Individualsandorganizationsworkingtowards:
- BuildingcoalitionswithorganizationsacrossissuesthataffectvulnerableNigerians
- Creatingawarenessonunder-reportedcrimescommittedagainstdisadvantaged
groups.
- Providingaccuratestatisticsonkillings,persecutions,faultlinesandotherdriversof
violenceinNigeria.
- Advocatingforreligiousfreedom,humandignity,rightstolife,andtheprotection
againstethnic/religiouspersecutionorgovernmentinterference.
WorksCited
Durojaiye,Biodun.“FulaniHerdsmenToGetRegisteredatNigerianBorders.”TheLagosTimes,25Jan.2017,thelagostimes.com.ng/fulani-herdsmen-to-get-registered-at-nigerian-borders-ngf/.
FederalRepublicofNigeria,StatisticianGeneral.“Report2016:NationalPopulationEstimates.”Report2016:NationalPopulationEstimates,NationalBureauofStatistics,2017,pp.1–11.NationalPopulationEstimates,nigerianstat.gov.ng/page/about-us.
FederalRepublicofNigeria,NigerianImmigrationService,ComptrollerGeneral.“ImmigrationStatistics(2013-2016).”ImmigrationStatistics(2013-2016),NBS,2017,pp.1–30.nigerianstat.gov.ng/page/data-analysis.
“Nigeria'sConstitutionof1999.”EditedbyTomGinsbergetal.,Constituteproject.org,ComparativeConstitutionsProject,7June2017,www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Nigeria_1999.pdf?lang=en.https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/no-identity-number-no-passport-2018-nis-boss/
Mayah,Emmanuel.“EXCLUSIVE:WhyWeStruckinAgatu-FulaniHerdsmen.”PremiumTimesNigeria,19Mar.2016,www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/200426-exclusive-struck-agatu-fulani-herdsmen.html.
“El-Rufai's3StepstoEndSouthernKadunaViolence.”EditedbyMusikiluMojeed,PremiumTimesNigeria,22Jan.2017,www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/221231-el-rufai-outlines-3-steps-permanently-end-southern-kaduna-violence.html.
Oluwole,Joshua.“PanYorubaGroup,Afenifere,CondemnsNorthernGovernors'PlanonFulaniHerdsmen.”PremiumTimesNigeria,28Jan.2017,www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/221804-pan-yoruba-group-afenifere-condemns-northern-governors-plan-fulani-herdsmen.html.
Patience,Martin.“Nigeria'sDeadlyBattleforLand:HerdsmenvFarmers.”BBCNews,BBC,10Aug.2016,www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37021044.
Unah,Linus.“Herdersvs.Farmers:Nigeria'sOtherSecurityCrisis.”WorldPoliticsReview,19June2017,www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/22507/herders-vs-farmers-nigeria-s-other-security-crisis.