The Herdsmen Conundrum: Before we Witness Reprisals

THE HERDSMEN CONUNDRUM: BEFORE WE WITNESS REPRISALS

    The popular saying that warns ‘make hay while the Sun shines’ would only be considered reasonable and rational when there’s still hay left in the bushes as well as every arena where it’s usually found. Of course, you can only be conscientized to grab something on time when the stuff in question is still available.

     For over the years, several communities across the federation had been subjected to an untold hardship and seemingly perpetual torture by the so-called Fulani herdsmen. I can’t forget in a hurry that virtually all the states in Nigeria, particularly those in the Southern region, have tasted at least a bit of this conundrum at one time or the other. The aforesaid set of farmers, rather than concentrating on grazing towards breeding their livestock, end up constituting evitable nuisance in their various host communities, in the name of ‘revenge’ or what have you.

     This domineering and nonchalant idiosyncrasy of these armed herdsmen who parade themselves with unspeakable ammunitions and weapons was arguably overlooked by the government and other concerned authorities, not until they recently unleashed an astonishing terror on the people of Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State; an attack that ushered in an unimagined massacre. In the said crisis, which transpired on Monday 25^th April 2016, reportedly scores feared dead, countless persons maimed, about a hundred residents injured, several houses cum churches razed, thereby rendering over two thousand dwellers homeless.

     Though the incident may have come and gone, it’s imperative to acknowledge that the peril it inflicted on the living victims is unarguably an experience they will all live to recall. Myself, each time I recollect that a certain community in Enugu State sometime in the history of this country woke one morning only to be brutally taken unawares by a group of total strangers, I invariably take solace in the ‘notion’ that it could be a mere dream.

     Obviously, the deed has already been done, thus instead of indulging in retrogressive discourse or debate, the most logical and viable thing to do at this point is to concentrate on the way forward. In a situation like this, having taken a formidable step toward checking reoccurrence of suchlike menace, the next most reasonable action to take is to harmonize the atmosphere or the ties biding the affected persons or groups.

     Frankly, before we witness reprisal, which is often the most expected consequent approach whenever such incident transpires, every concerned quarter or body needs to leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that adequate measures are taken with a view to avoiding further tragic situations in the country at large. Any reasonable Nigerian, both at home and in the Diaspora, who says he/she wasn’t deeply hurt by the aforementioned ordeal, is to say the least a monster; hence, all hands are required to be on deck toward creating the anticipated harmony.

     The last time I checked, the herdsmen imbroglio was almost ubiquitous that it required only a severe and drastic measure towards addressing it. The governors of the affected states in their respective jurisdictions, rather than aggravate the colossal injuries already caused, ought to map out the areas to be utilized for grazing on behalf of the herdsmen. And, the herdsmen shouldn’t be allowed to move from one state to another, which often constitute nuisance on our roads. Moreover, henceforth the grazing activity should be commercialized by the various states; it ought to serve as an IGR source for the states.

     Thus, commercialization of the grazing activity as well as scrapping of routing from a locality to the other ought to be captured as one of the clauses in the proposed Grazing Reserves bill. This is why the citizenry mustn’t be taken unawares as regards the said bill; all hands must be involved while drafting the bill so that every needed clause or interest would be captured. Similarly, the government is required to grant soft loans to the livestock farmers to enable them prepare formidable and lasting ranches that would stand the taste of time, in their respective jurisdictions or farms. To this end, any herdsman who cannot foot the bill for the grazing activity in any state would concentrate on his ranch.

     However, I want to bring to our knowledge that it isn’t all the herdsmen that are brutal; the vandals are just a few among them that unnecessarily intends to unleash terror on their host communities, probably owing to one or two frivolous reasons. To this end, the bad eggs must be fished out via the effort of the leadership of the herdsmen’s coalition, and thereafter brought to book. The relevant law enforcement agents ought to take this step very seriously.

     I’m a social crusader who strongly believes in ascertaining the fundamental cause(s) of any anomaly if truly the lapse in question must be addressed holistically or toward restoring normalcy, and this very one isn’t exceptional. Hence, I enjoin the apt authorities such as the Police, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, to embark on a rigorous finding with a view to ensuring that they ascertain the prime origin of the ongoing state of unrest. In addition, governments at all levels should variously set up committees to look into this aspect.

     Town hall meetings equally ought to be randomly scheduled to sensitize the general public on their civic responsibilities in this regard as well as to give the affected host communities a sense of belonging. We must note that we can’t completely unravel this state of quagmire without employing Community Policing, which would be thoroughly effective and efficient only if the entire dwellers are carried along. We mustn’t take any action without involving the potential victims of the mayhem.

     There’s also need for us, especially the security agents, to headlong stop inserting ‘Fulani’ whenever we intend to speak or write on anything pertaining to the herdsmen; we must take into cognizance that anyone could be a herdsman regardless of his/her place of origin. Besides, anyone who intends to hurt you might come in disguise as anything; needless to reiterate that someone or a group that had been longing to terrorize you, may decide to hide under the guise of herdsmen. Thus, we must be duly guided on how we go about the so called Fulani herdsmen.

      I can’t round off this critique without reminding the various governments on the need to embark on a massive compensation programme, not just in Nimbo Community but all over Nigeria. Let’s make hay while the Sun shines now it (hay) is still available in the various bushes. Think about it!

 Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

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