The Nigerian civil war which started in 1967 ended on 15 January 1970. The period of war brought untold hardship unto the people of Nigeria particularly those from the Southeastern part of the country. In fact, there was absolute decline in the total value of goods and services available to Nigeria during war of 3 years. Accordingly, the development process of the nation suffered serious setback. The post war years particularly 1970/1971 witnessed rapid growth in the nation’s economy. Consequently, the former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, in 1971, initiated the process of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the nation. The objective was to build the nation whose economy was destroyed by the civil war.
Today, insurgency has changed the battlefield. Accordingly, the battlefield is no longer linear. It is asymmetric. There is no front or rear boundary on the battlefield. In the military, when experts talk about “asymmetric warfare,” they simply refer to battles fought between opponents whose relative military power or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly. Regrettably, future wars will continue to follow the asymmetric pattern for years to come as terrorists and non-state actors wreak havoc on innocent citizens either for religious beliefs or economic necessity.
The emergence of Boko Haram (BH) has altered the peaceful landscape of the North East in particular and Nigeria in general. That BH is characterized as the biggest threat to Nigeria’s security and one of the world’s deadliest militant group is not in doubt. With BH, the myth of a “peacetime” military in 2009 was shattered. Since then, the North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Bauchi have known no peace. This is because a new kind of enemy has emerged. I doubt if anyone knows its faith or objectives.
BH has no rules of engagement and it is difficult to appreciate its culture. It is a terrorist group with no recognizable state sponsorship but noticeable uniform. It is an enemy that is willing and ready to use any tactic, and any means at their disposal to kill, instill fear, and disrupt peace in order to achieve their goals at any cost.
I remember vividly when BH reared its ugly head sometime in 2009, those in political power at that time said there was nothing like BH. The inability of political leadership to speak the truth compromised our peace as a nation. Our leaders have forgotten that righteousness exalts a nation. If the truth was told at that time and solutions proffered to solve the problem, perhaps there will be no BH.
Before Boko Haram became an internationally acclaimed terrorist group, businesses, farm plantations, and livestock have been collaterally damaged such that Nigeria currently has about 2.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).The truth is that we now have people who are not sheltered because they have been forced to leave their homes for safety – homes that have been destroyed by mortars and artillery guns. But these IDPs remain within Nigeria. The situation the IDPs find themselves in their own country is exhausting, uninteresting and unpleasant. The worst of it all is that they have nowhere to go, while terrorists bomb them in their camps. You may say this is an example of man’s inhumanity to man. For this 2.7 million displaced individuals, Nigeria is on a treadmill as they have nowhere to go.
Nigerians must protect, save, and spare particularly non-combatants- women and children amongst the IDPs. These are our own people regarded by terrorists as a means to be used, exploited and even employed as shields. Terrorists now use young children as suicide bombers. Please let me digress at this juncture.
This writer never thought that Nigeria would degenerate to an extent where innocent people will be killed indiscriminately because cows must graze. Today, there is no yet civil war but we live in a dangerous nation. The situation is such that if a cow is seen in any town, those in the vicinity must run to save themselves from being shot by herdsmen. The signatures of the past that led to the process of reconciliation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction are still with us in Nigeria after 45 years.
Since 2008, I have heard about “Fulani” herdsmen killing innocent citizens. The federal government has always glossed over this security challenge as those bereaved bury their dead. It has reached an alarming dimension as innocent citizens are killed by “Fulani” herdsmen almost on a weekly basis. Sometime ago, many people were reported killed in Agatu local government of Benue state by “Fulani” herdsmen, while many are still missing. The situation is not different in Nassarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Ekiti, and Kogi states just to mention a few.
In Enugu state, there are reports that scores have been killed after roaming herdsmen invaded several towns. A local Catholic church was also reported burnt in Enugu State. Herdsmen now carry AK-47 guns. How did herdsmen get these arms? These are weapons that are not manufactured in Nigeria. Are these herdsmen Nigerians or they are from neighboring countries? Anyway, our borders are porous. This makes it convenient for any foreigner to stroll leisurely in and out of the country.
The sporadic malicious killings of innocent Nigerians and destruction of villages as well as farmlands by “Fulani” herdsmen need to be thoroughly investigated. Anyway, Mr President has ordered the Chief of Defence Staff and the IGP to protect those communities affected. Mr President, you have only reminded these gentlemen to do their jobs. What is the policy statement to nip in the bud this monstrous crimes perpetrated by “Fulani” herdsmen?
The menace of these Fulani herdsmen is disturbing and if not checked may be worse than the BH insurgency. Is nomadic pastoralism sustainable in these contemporary times? I don’t think so. You may argue it is the culture of nomads to move about grazing their livestock. Can’t we change a culture that destroys lives and property of innocent citizens? If the herdsmen are Nigerians, can’t state governments restrict these herdsmen and their livestock to their respective states?
Some have argued that these herdsmen are associates of BH. For now, the “Fulani” herdsmen may not be taken as members of a terrorist group because they have not expressed an ideology around the violence they unleash on innocent citizens. However, there could be a link between the “Fulani” herdsmen and BH to further weaken the security of the nation. The nation cannot accommodate these security challenges arising from armed herdsmen, as it struggles to contain BH insurgency in the North East coupled with substantial pro-Biafra protests in the Southeast.
In sum, state governments should provide ranches in their states rather than the federal government creating grazing zones in other states. As the federal government is “working behind the scenes” to resolve the conflict, those herdsmen who have perpetrated the killing of innocent lives should be arrested, prosecuted and if found guilty, be convicted to serve as deterrence to others. The minister of Interior needs to find ways and means of improving security of our borders.
All proposed bills at the NASS on cattle grazing should be harmonized and thoroughly discussed. The debate should start now. In the process, politicians should subordinate their constituencies’ interests to national interests on the matter. Urgent steps should be taken to prevent attack by herdsmen from metamorphosing into insurgency. Nigeria cannot fight multiple insurgencies as the nation’s economic diversification program will be impaired.
MA Johnson
