The lingering clashes between itinerant herdsmen and farmers in Taraba State are taking their toll on people and properties. The clashes also triggered accusations and counter-accusations among neighbours, who, hitherto, coexisted peacefully. ROBERT EGBE examines the nature of the conflict and its dangerous trend.
‘Yesterday, they attacked and killed innocent people in Taraba without provocation. Today, an hour ago, they attacked some communities and killed people. Is that how people should continue to be killed?” Those were the words of Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku.
He was lamenting the attacks of January 16 and 17 which claimed the lives of a monarch and 28 others in the villages of Gishiri, Dooshima and Danwaza.
Not everyone agrees on the causes of and solution to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the Northcentral. But one thing is certain: the more the problem lingers, the more people die.
For instance, last Friday, at least 32 bodies were recovered in Jandeikyula Village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, following a dusk attack by suspected herdsmen two days before.
A former Special Adviser to the late Taraba Governor Danbaba Suntai, Orbee Uchiv, an indigene of Jandeikyula, told The Nation that some victims crawled into the bush “but they died of injuries resulting from gunshot wounds.”
On January 6 and 7, 55 people were killed in Lau local government area, with several missing. At least, two hundred homes, including food stuff, were destroyed.
Most of the bodies, that were recovered two days later from burnt houses, bush paths and nearby farmlands, were of mostly children, women and the aged.
A mass burial was hurriedly organised by youths, as policemen and soldiers cordoned off the area.
“Herdsmen are killing people in Lau, my state,” Governor Darius Ishaku told The Nation.
Miyetti Allah
The Taraba government’s claim was faulted by the Fulani community, including the umbrella body of cattle breeders – Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN).
MACBAN cited several instances where its members were victims of cattle rustling and killings.
According to the cattle breeders, the conflict in Taraba began as communal clashes but has “since metamorphosed into a coordinated operation to exterminate our people.”
On January 14, the group, through its National Secretary, Baba Usman Ngeljarma, called for “a federal judicial commission of inquiry into all these killings so as to unravel the truth and the offenders.”
Ngeljarma said an unprovoked attack on Fulani communities on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State last June “left about 700 people killed, over 20, 000 cattle rustled or killed with over 300 communities burnt down.”
According to him, the victims were sedentary pastoralist Fulani families “who have practiced the much deceitfully advocated ranching for decades.”
“In Lau, 24 Fulanis were also killed. In Numan, Adamawa State, about 82 of our women and children were slaughtered in cold blood by Bachama militias. In Kajuru, Kaduna State, 96 were killed.
“All these were committed in a spate of seven months, beginning from June 2017 to January 2018. All the killings were done by ethnic groups who see themselves as indigenes and the Fulanis as marauders, even where the latter have been settled for nearly a hundred years.”
In his report entitled: “The resurgence of pastoral conflicts in Plateau State”, Cheta Nwanze of SBM Intelligence, highlighted how such violence could occur.
He observed that the formation of ethnic militias by communities to protect themselves can sometimes, lead to preemptive attacks on herdsmen.
Nwanze stated that these non-Fulani militias in Plateau, Nassarawa and Taraba States, work together to create a ‘buffer zone’, which may trigger reprisal “on settler Fulani communities, many of whom were not culpable for the atrocities committed by their nomadic kinfolks.”
The $200m lawsuit
Another Fulani group, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, has filed a suit against the Taraba and federal governments at the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) court in Abuja.
The group is seeking $200 million as compensation for the losses the Fulani suffered, following the June violence.
According to it, at least 732 people were killed or missing, while 25,000 cattles were killed.
The complainant’s counsel, Yusuf Dankofa, a professor of Law, said the attacks were carried out in a “well-coordinated and organised manner, fit to be aptly described as ‘genocide.’
Herders and Global Terrorism Index
Several local and international reports have identified Fulani militias as major participants in the conflict.
According to the Australia-registered Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the Fulani, who number about 20 million across West and Central Africa, account for around 90 per cent of herders.
IEP’s 2016 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) said a small subset of the herders in the Middle Belt, including Taraba, undertook more attacks and were responsible for more deaths than Boko Haram in 2016.
The GTI said: “These attacks take place in the context of ongoing tension between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers throughout the region and which are exacerbated by resource scarcity and desertification.
“Only a small subset of herders – the so-called Fulani extremists – engages in attacks, and there is confusion as to whether there is any communication or coordination between attackers.”
The IEP described Fulani militas as the fourth deadliest terrorist group in 2014, killing over 2,500 people in Nigeria between 2012 and 2016. They used machine guns and attacks on villages to assault and intimidate farmers.
Fed Govt’s response
On January 17, the National Economic Council (NEC), presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, approved a 10-member working committee on the herdsmen/farmers conflicts.
Speaking on February 20, the vice president said the Federal Government had deployed mobile policemen and military formations and units in Benue, Taraba and the flash points in the Northcental zones.
He said: “Accordingly, more troops were deployed and the Commander, 707 Special Forces Brigade, was reassigned to Taraba State for effective command and control of troops operating in the entire Benue/Taraba general area.
“And next week, the Nigerian Army will flag-off Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race), to checkmate the activities of armed bandits and militias in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and environs.”
Lingering ethno-religious conflicts since 1991
Although the current conflict in Taraba has pitted herders against farmers, there have been other kinds of serious conflicts in the state since its creation in 1991, largely because of its multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature.
Taraba has over 80 ethnic groups and tribes, including: Mumuye, Ichen, Wurkum, Mambilla, Kuteb, Chamba, Jukun, Yandang, Fulani, Jenjo, Kunini, Lo, Ndoro,Kambu, Kaka, Bandawa, Mung, Tiv, Zo, Bambuka, Jibu and Jole.
However, Hausa is understood and commonly spoken by most indigenes of the state, irrespective of ethnic grouping.
Controversy over Operation Ayem Akpatuma
Following, last Wednesday’s attack, the women in Takum community protested the killings and alleged “brutality and collusion by the military.”
Claiming that their husbands and sons were illegally detained in Takum Barracks, they demanded to see the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col Ibrahim Gambari, who has been accused by the governor of bias.
The leader of the protesters, Esther Yakubu, told The Nation: “Houses are being searched by soldiers. Kitchen knives and cutlasses are being taken away. Children are being harassed. Youths, looking strong enough to defend the community are whisked away. Any youth, whose names appeared on a ‘gossip list’ as Youth Defence Vanguard has been arrested.
“Our people are now left at the mercy of herdsmen whose business of killing and destroying lives and property continues.”
The Takum Local Government Area Chairman, Shiban Tikari, urged the people to defend themselves.
Takum is the home of a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.
The council chief alleged that the attacks and killings have worsened despite Ayem AKpatuma operation.
He said: “These killings have continued, and instead of stopping the attacks, the army is busy harassing innocent people in spite of the influx of herdsmen in Takum.”
Row over Danjuma’s comments
Lt.-Gen. Danjuma spoke the mind of the Taraba government and many of its residents On March 23, when he accused the military of taking sides in carrying out the Ayem Akpatuma operation.
The General called on the citizens of the affected states to defend themselves from herdsmen attacks.
Gen Danjuma, who spoke at the maiden Convocation of the Taraba State University (TSU) in Jalingo said: “The Armed Forces are not neutral. They collude …with the armed bandits that kill people and kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movement. They cover them.”
But the Army described the statement as “most unfortunate”. Its spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said contrary to Gen. Danjuma’s accusation, the army remained impartial in its handling of crises.
He said: “The public is notified that Nigerian Army personnel have had to pay the supreme price for ensuring the sustenance of security in Taraba State. For instance, a gallant non-commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army was beheaded on 16 March 2018 in Takum, Taraba State by criminal elements.
“It is noteworthy to state that at the inception of the Ayem Akpatuma operation, the government did not cooperate with the Nigerian Army due to the Army’s stance to remain absolutely neutral in the herdsmen-farmers crisis. The Nigerian Army will continue to remain as such.”
Taraba government backs Danjuma
Ishaku backed Danjuma’s allegation that the armed forces “are not neutral” in the attacks on innocent Nigerians by “armed bandits.”
Last Wednesday, the governor told the military panel investigating the allegation, headed by Maj-Gen. John Nimyel that his kinsmen were “in full support of the call on Nigerians to defend themselves.”
According to the governor, Gen. Danjuma’s remarks should be critically looked into rather than criticised.
He said: “I didn’t sleep last night. At 1am, I was woken up by a distress call on another herdsmen militia attack. Yesterday, fortunately, the military from Takum came in to help. They battled till this morning.
“In the morning, they counted 15 bodies. Some are in the hospital in Sondi. But as you are aware, now you can go to Sondi. This is not fake news. I spoke with the commanding officer of the army there this morning.
“Also this morning at 3am, the military in Takum went about beating up youths, arresting them from their homes and taking them to the military barracks.
“The people are being killed and yet you are arresting them. Where is the fairness in this matter?”
A statement to “correct misrepresentation of” the General’s views signed by the governors’ media aide, Bala Dan Abu, said the military had been ‘sloppy’ in tackling the crisis.
The statement reads: “It is not surprising that Gen. T.Y. Danjuma’s candid assessment of the sloppy attitude and handling of the security situation in the country by the military has generated a huge amount of reactions.
“Gen. Danjuma’s comments were not on the security situation in Taraba, his home state, alone. The worries he expressed were about the poor handling of the herdsmen killings that have taken place and have continued in all parts of the country by the Nigerian military. His call for vigilance was meant for all Nigerians.”
On the claim by the Army and the Defence Ministry that the governor was not cooperating with the troops, Abu said they lied against lshaku.
He said: “They had at different times claimed that the governor did not cooperate with the military deployed to the state and that they never received reports of misconduct from the governor against the soldiers deployed to the state. Again, these claims are wrong and callous.
“The truth is that all efforts made by Governor lshaku to get the military contingent to the state to show commitment and fairness in their handling of the crises in Taraba State were ignored.
“Letters written by his administration to the highest security authorities drawing attention to these lapses were also ignored while military personnel posted carried on as if the governor did not exist.”
The letters
The Nation learnt that the governor wrote at least four letters to the Federal Government on the conflict.
One of the letters, dated July 5, last year, was addressed to the vice president, who was then the Acting President.
Entitled: Re:Report about security situation in villages around Kashimbilla Dam, the letter reads: “I am in receipt of a letter copied to me by contractors handling the Kashimbilla Dam Project in Takum Local Government Area of my state drawing attention to the precarious security situation in villages surrounding the Kashimbilla Dam.
“…the report of the contractors attached herewith has been confirmed to be the true situation of things around the dam which has resulted in the killing of scores of people by suspected Fulani militias who are moving between our borders with Cameroon and home state.
“I therefore wish to appeal to Your Excellency to direct the Nigerian Army, the Navy and Air Force to establish a permanent security base around the darn area to check the menace of these Fulani militia that are capable of sabotaging the evacuation of the 40 megawatts of power that is now in progress and create general instability within the surrounding communities.”
Another letter dated August 11, last year and addressed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), requested that the Commanding Officer of the 93 Battalion, Takum, Lt.-Col. Gambari, be moved from Taraba, for his “disappointing conduct, in spite of huge security challenges in the state.”
The letter, citing a case of collusion, said some herdsmen who attacked communities in Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas on May 6, last year, were later overpowered by security agents and their 224 cows seized and given to Gambari as a ploy for him to track down the culprits.
But, the military allegedly released the cows to the culprits without the knowledge of the governor.
Open Grazing Prohibition/
Ranches Establishment Law
Taraba’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law came into effect on January 24. It was, however, rejected by Fulani groups and the Miyetti Allah, which has threatened a law suit to stop its implementation.
On June 12, last year, the association described the law as a plot to subdue the Fulani tribe and also to undermine and restrict activities of the Fulani tribe in the state.
But the government insists it can help stem the tide of violence.
In a statement tagged: “General outlook of the security challenges in Taraba State between 2012 and 2018”, Abu described the law as the government’s idea and weapon for dealing with the ugly situation that the crises had assumed.
He said: “Those insisting that the law is the cause of the relentless attacks in several states in the country need to be reminded that Plateau, Kogi, Enugu and several other states that have not passed the law prohibiting open grazing have also been victims of the ferocious aggression of the herdsmen.”
No winner, no vanquish
For as long as the crisis persists, all the ethnic groups in the state bear the brunt.
In May 17, 2017, over 15,000 people were reportedly displaced, following violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Bali Local Government Area.
Last month, over 5,000 sought shelters in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp on the Mambilla Plateau.
A 2017 report by The Guardian (UK) indicated that the rising animosity between pastoralists and farmers led to some farmers burning their land after harvesting their crops. It was to deny herdsmen any farmland to graze on.
Falana suggests a way out
In a statement in January, rights activist and senior advocate Femi Falana (SAN) suggested the immediate disarming of the herders as the first step to ending the incessant clashes.
He said: “The much-delayed ranches should be established while all feuding communities are reconciled. With the establishment of ranches and abattoirs in a few states, meat would be prepared in large scale and distributed throughout the country and possibly exported.”
Falana kicked against the creation of militia or vigilance groups to tackle the menace “as this would only lead to further crises and killings.
His words: “The establishment of ranches is what has been done in Botswana which is the largest producer and exporter of meat in Africa.
“That southern African country of 2.2 million people with a cattle population of over 3 million has successfully stopped violent clashes between farmers and cattle herdsmen. Once ranches and abattoirs are established in Nigeria, all controversial anti-grazing laws would become spent.”
