The fulani ethnic group (also known as Bororo'en, fellaata, fellah, fulfude, Fula and peul) are people that live in an area that stretches from Ouadai(chad) to far away Ethiopia, they are mainly found in twenty Nations in wide swath of Africa from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan. They are grouped into the settlers and the Nomads. They are estimated to be about 25million people. They are mainly Muslims and rears cattle.
History says that the arrival of the Fulani In Nigeria Coincides with the Rise of Uthman Dan fodi and since then the Fulanis have been a Core member of the Entity called Nigeria. the Settlers are found in states like Kano, Kaduna, katsina, taraba, and Adamawa. The nomads can be found in almost every state in Nigeria. The Nomads don't stay in a place for a long time because their Cattles need Fresh Forages which is very scarce in the dry season so they move the Cattles in search of Greener pastures. This search for Fresh forages causes Conflict between the Nomads and the Farmers with the latter claiming that the Farm produce in millions are being destroyed due to Grazing of Cattles on their farms. They (the farmers ) also claimed that their lands were being degraded on a daily basis and any attempt at complaint were met violence from the Fulanis then comes retaliation by the citizens. This incessant Conflicts in 2002 prompted the then Governor of Oyo, Late Lam Adesina to place an embargo on the Nomads activities in the state. This decision was highly criticized by the Arewa forums and other concern citizens especially from the North and in order to find a lasting solution to the violence, the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar together with the current President, Muhammad Buhari held a meeting with the Governor, traditional leaders and other stakeholders in which at the end of the day, the embargo was lifted but Violence did not stop.
Recently, the violent activities of the Fulani Nomads has become very rampant, they steal, they rape, maim, and destroy properties at slightest provocation.Their activities are mostly felt in almost every state with States like Benue and plateau bearing the brunt of the menace. But more recently, the Nomads have step up their game, they have abandoned archaic arms and ammunitions like Club, Dane guns, matchets and daggers. They now carry sophisticated weapon like Ak47, RPGs and grenades. They have been committing crime against innocent farmers and settlers for over five years now but the straw that broke the camel back came when they kidnapped a Yoruba in Akure. This Latest action sparked a lot of angry reactions from eminent Nigerians. Some even suggested that the Fulani nomads should be pursued from the south. The activities of this group has increased ever since President Buhari was sworn in
Last week, the Fulani nomads heavily armed with sophisticated weapons reportedly killed over 500 people in Agatu village in Benue and just yesterday, they reportedly killed over 200 people in the same Benue state. This is not some fulani nomads-farmers conflict, this is a full scale terrorism. This is a bitter pill Nigerians can't swallow. The Yorubas, the Agatus, the igedes and other ethnic groups are being maimed everyday
People can't sleep with their two eyes closed, people are being terrorized on there own land. The United State recently named the Nomads as the fouth deadliest group in the world. Something needs to be done.
Nigeria need to Nick this menace in bud, the President as Grand commander of Federal Republic should address this madness, maybe he should go on live radio especially BBC Hausa to speak with his people, our boarder patrols need to be strengthened, we need to deploy men of The JTF to the most affected place, NEMA should provide abode for the refugees. Lastly we need to pray for protection against this uncircumcised savage.
Let me end this write up with the words of Martin Niemoller
"First they came for the socialists and I didn't speak out because I was not a socialist, then they came for the trade unionist and I didn't speak out because I was not a trade unionist, then they came for the jews and I didn't speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me."
Kayode Abiodun writes from his village at Ayegun Ibadan and can be contacted on twitter @abiodunsays.
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