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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.