IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

By Yemi debowale;
I find the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the menace of nomadic cattle rearing across the nation frightening and shocking. Fulani herdsmen have persisted in attacking and destroying farms all over Nigeria. There are so many cases of farmers being killed by these herdsmen when they resist the invasion of their farms. Nomadic cattle rearing have no place in modern societies. Cattle are reared in ranches. Ours should not be an exception. This is one area I thought Buhari’s “Change” would touch in a matter of months; particularly after his speech that he belonged to nobody. This speech is fast becoming an infamous one. The fear by many Nigerians is that the Fulani herdsmen would continue to terrorize farmers because Buhari as “one of them” has since been confirmed President of Nigeria. In the last six months, the herdsmen have attacked farmlands with so much impunity. For me, the Buhari Presidency has emboldened them. The truth be told; I can’t remember seeing the President dressing-down these notorious herdsmen.

Just last Sunday, the Fulani herdsmen entered Oju Local Government Area of Benue State. It was a bloody day as farmers in Oju villages battled to prevent the invaders and their cattle from devouring their crops. The locals were proactive by mobilising and besieging a Fulani settlement in the area to stop a large herd of cattle and herdsmen from gaining access to farmlands in the area. They demanded that the herdsmen should return to where they were coming from. The herdsmen who were seeking greener pasture at all cost fought back. They allegedly killed three of the villagers. A reprisal attack by the villagers led to the death of three herdsmen. As at press time, tension remained very high in many communities in Oju Local Government because the locals are afraid that the herdsmen are mobilizing to launch a fresh attack.

Again, just about 12 days ago, some Fulani herdsmen entered several villages in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State with their cattle and ravaged dozens of farmlands in 15 villages. Some of the farmers who resisted the herdsmen were attacked and injured. The aggrieved farmers numbering about 400 said the invading Fulani herdsmen were armed with knives and guns and nobody dared to stop them. The farmers have lost virtually all their yields to the invaders. As at press time, the herdsmen were still ravaging farms in Adedapo, Olorode, Keji, Aboke, Pelu, Alagbe, Gbagba Elewure and Areyinjetu communities in Ido L.G.A. The Oyo State Police Command and the State Security Service have failed to respond to the distress call of the farmers.

It seems that there is no point waiting for Buhari to act on the menace of these herdsmen. It is now certain that our President is partial. Going forward, the states badly affected by this menace should take steps to outlaw nomadic cattle rearing. This will encourage law enforcement agencies to respond swiftly to infractions by these troublesome herdsmen. Northern states governors should also legally restrict cattle rearing to ranches. They states should provide land for this as well as training on modern cattle rearing.
Courtesy: Thisday, Nigeria