With a view to stemming the recurring violence between the Fulani herdsmen and the farming communities in the Southeast, a security/sustainable development seminar has been organised in Enugu. The seminar was put together by the African Centre for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development (AFRISDEV) in collaboration with the Catholic Institute for Development, Peace and Justice (CIDJAP).
The Fulani, led by Ado Saidu Baso, Bala Ardo and Yusuf Sambo turned out in their numbers. They were excited by the prospect of peace that would soon reign between the two parties. There were also pastoralists led by Chief R. C. Oguejiofor as well as resource persons from the ministries of Agriculture, Health and Judiciary.
The theme of the seminar was “Fulani Herdsmen Versus Farming Communities: Seeking Peaceful Co-existence for Sustainable Development in the Southeast.”
In his presentation, the Director of CIDJAP, Prof. (Msgr) Obiora Ike who was represented by Rev. Fr. Anthony Ezekwu said the seminar was timely “since it is like a ticking time bomb. Many lives of humans and cattle have been lost. Properties have been destroyed and a lot of harm done.”
He said: “CIDJAP stands to promote the pastoral and social teachings of the Church, giving succour to the downtrodden, inculcating the spirit of hard work and dignity of labour, urging for peace in communities, dialogue, tolerance and freedom of existence,” adding that the “era of nomadic practices of roaming villages with cattle and sheep was over and must be approached differently.”
He, nonetheless, stressed that the “Fulani are not Boko Haram. They are humans, friends and brothers. They need us and we need them.”
Prof. Ike, who is also a member of the just-concluded National Conference, revealed that while deliberating on the issue of nomadic life, the confab resolved that “all herdsmen and cattle shall stay in identified ranches and grazing centres. They will stay where they are welcome. Their cattle shall receive scientific feeding and shall be well cared for as an agricultural project by either the state or the Federal Government.
“Nomads shall be integrated into civilisation, shall be educated and receive better standards of life.”
In his opening address the executive director of AFRISDEV, Dr. Ben Simon Okolo said the seminar was borne out of research and analysis of the security challenges in Nigeria, especially in the Southeast.
“While the theme seems to centre on the Fulani herdsmen, it must be stated upfront that, the Fulani is not the only tribe that engage in nomadic pastoralism in Nigeria. In the Southeast for instance, we also have the Shuwa Arab as nomadic herdsmen. However, the vast majority of the populace does not know the difference between the Fulani and the Shuwa Arab, hence the “generic name Fulani.”
“We equally recognise the existence of other security challenges, which we shall be addressing in forthcoming seminars. While the government has the primary responsibility of ensuring peace and security within the Nigerian state, it is equally our responsibility to contribute to our individual and collective security,” he said.
According to Okolo, the media had been awash with news of pre-meditated and massive violent attacks by supposed herdsmen on host communities, particularly in the North Central geo-political zone.
“While this has not been a main feature of interaction between the herdsmen and the host communities in the Southeast, there are very genuine concerns, especially with reported cases of skirmishes between the herdsmen and their host communities in the farming areas,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “There is a school of thought that views the sudden rise of these attacks by the herdsmen on their host communities as a pre-meditated act targeted at the communities, with a more sinister intention than just, “quarrel over grazing land.
“Some have, therefore, couched these attacks as part of an overall plan of terrorising the original inhabitants of the communities and dispossessing them of their lands. The recent decision by the National Economic Council (NEC) to establish “grazing reserves across Nigeria” seems to strengthen the above argument.
“Some have even suggested that these attacks, especially given the nature of the sophisticated weaponry they employ, could be targeted at further destabilising the country politically.
“Of major concern to the Southeast, and more particularly Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, is that they share borders with Benue and Kogi states, where such targeted attacks have been recorded. The continued violent attacks that have been ongoing, especially in Plateau and Benue states, and the audacious attack targeted against Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, is a serious cause for concern. “Some have, therefore, advocated a complete expulsion of the herdsmen from the Southeast; a position that AFRSIDEV does not share, as this is not a constructive solution and cannot lead to sustainable development.
“Sustainable development, however, cannot be achieved in a climate of fear and insecurity. No doubt, the Southeast needs the services of both the herdsmen and farmers to achieve sustainable growth in agriculture. This, therefore, calls for constructive acts towards building a peaceful co-existence between the herders and the farming/host communities in order to forestall such attacks that might envelope the Southeast.
“This seminar will give rise to the development of well-thought out policy options for dealing with this salient security cum environmental challenge.”
Contributing, the Director of Vetinary Services in the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture revealed that the world over, the movement of pastoralists are controlled, adding that despite everything, the movement of the Fulani herdsman within Enugu State shall be controlled.
“Before now, these herdsmen carry only sticks. But today, they carry Ak47 rifles. We believe these come from crisis-ridden neighbouring countries,” he said.
Although the Fulani did not make any contribution, they were all satisfied with the conduct of the seminar. Bala Ardo, who is a graduate and holds a post-graduate diploma interpreted and explained the presentations to his kinsmen.
