Fulani and their cattle

By Eromosele Ebhomele

Since Monday afternoon when news of an attack on a community in Enugu State, Nigeria spread, Nigerians have continued to express anger over what some of them described as the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration over the continued attacks by the herdsmen on communities in the country.

Some also condemned the silence by political and traditional leaders in the country for refusing to speak out. Some of those who commented suggested that state Assemblies should come up with laws to restrict movement of animals.

Only Lagos State has such a law restricting movement of animals along the streets and neighbourhood in the country.

Between 20 and 40 people were reportedly killed by these herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu state on Monday. The herdsmen also destroyed houses and a church.

The attack occurred when Lai Mohammed, the Nigerian Minister of Information, said at a town hall meeting that the President was acting silently on the problems being caused by herdsmen.

In a reaction on her Twitter handle: Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the presidential candidate of KOWA Party in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria said it was hard to comment on the attacks by Fulani herdsmen because “what’s happening is unbelievable. How can a government that’s had to fight insurgency be this ‘tolerant’?”

In her opinion, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister and rights activist, quoted Theodore Roosevelt who said: “in any moment of decision…the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan wondered: “why have the voices of ‘activists’ suddenly gone quiet over this Fulani herdsmen killing spree? Is this what money and lust for power does?

“If you keep quiet because Fulani herdsmen are not killing your family, by the time it gets to your turn there may be no one to talk for you!”

Chris Nwaokobia (Jnr), the Director-General of Change Ambassadors of Nigeria, CAN, a body which played a major role in the emergence of President Buhari, reminded the President that no amount of developmental projects and good intentions of government can replace confidence building and citizen engagement.

“We cannot assume that all is well, we cannot assume that ‘we shall do this and that we are doing that’ is sufficient to diminish notes of discord.

“The faith and hope that Nigerians expressed when they chose you as the lead watchman carries a huge responsibility. Sir, they want you to unlock the waters of love, of brotherhood and of oneness.

“They want you to deal with the ravaging Fulani herdsmen like you are dealing with the Haramists, and they want you to deal with pipeline vandals and those threatening the resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta the same way,” he said.

Buhari

While noting that citizen engagement is deeper than town hall meetings where only elites and friends of the government gather, Nwaokobia noted that “the sounds of discontent are from the roadsides, the market places, the schools, the villages, the hinterlands et al; the angst that troubles our polity is deeper than the Broom and the Umbrella, the pain is huge and threatening, partisans overlook the urgency of now, but the greater number are non-partisans, they are Nigerians wishing and hoping for the best, and the best they deserve.”

Sola Salako, a Nigerian activist, wrote: “dear President Buhari, this incessant invasions of whole communities by purported Fulani herdsmen is getting out of hand now. You promised that security of life and property would be your primary responsibility as President of the Federal Republic.

“This was how Boko Haram started and no one took them seriously. You need to do something to stop this NOW…every Nigerian life must matter. That is the Change I worked and voted for! Thank you.”

A foreign analyst with the handle: @Pol_Sec_Analyst on twitter, declared: “2016 will be the year that civilian casualties attributed to so-called Fulani herdsmen will outnumber those attributed to #BokoHaram.”

For an angry Nnamdi Anekwe, “the Minister of Interior doesn’t give a damn about the menace of the Fulani Herdsmen. He blames social media for sensation.”

For @trafficbutter, “the only civilian population moving around unrestricted with so much arms is the ‘Fulani herdsmen’ with death in their trail!” He added that the 2015 Global Terror Index ranked the Fulani herdsmen as d fourth deadliest terror organisation ind world.

Femi Salawu, who posted his reaction on Facebook, noted that it is an admission of failure for the Inspector-General of Police to publicly confess that his men cannot police Agatu community in Benue State, also ravaged by herdsmen, due to lack of budget provision.

“Now we have Enugu situation on our hands. If 92 herdsmen were indeed arrested, have they been charged to courts? How many of these criminal herdsmen has the government used as a scapegoat? What body language is the Federal Government passing down to states and local governments on punishment for these herdsmen matter.

“Every Nigerian life must count and the security of lives that President Buhari swore to protect must be pursued and be seen to be pursued aggressively

“Does anybody recall that the convoy of former Senate President, David Mark, was reportedly attacked on his way back from an assessment visit to Agatu. An assault on a former Senate President and nobody was arrested! I am afraid at the lawlessness that is being condoned in this country.

“If the government we voted can’t protect our lives then let them step aside for people who are passionate to work. Many of us were very critical and bared our fangs on the Jonathan regime for this inexcusable dereliction of duty on the part of our security apparatchik.

“Abeg the FG should demonstrate leadership on this one. Enough of these kalo kalo with the lives of human beings,” he said.

In his opinion, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the head of Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria, wrote: “the only conclusion I can reasonably reach without any fear of contradiction is that President Buhari endorses the killings of community members especially in the South.

“Otherwise, why has he not said anything? Why have security agencies done nothing to apprehend and prosecute these murderers? When the state fails to protect the people, such people have a right to self-defence and self-help.

“Communities should arm themselves and defend themselves against invasion of their lands and against killings, raping and destruction. God will punish any security agency that will raise a voice against a people defending themselves in the face of total failure by the state to defend them.”

Abuchi Anueyagu wondered: “where are the so called Southeast political leaders: governors, former governors, ministers, former ministers, senators and former senators, House of Reps members and former House of Reps members, Ohanaeze groups, big lawyers, big business men and women?

“Yesterday it would have been Ugwu something in Awgu LGA if the men there did not rise up to the challenge before they were arrested in tens. Today it is Nimbo. Who knows the next victim. My daughter by the grace of God escaped by whiskers the other day.”

Magaret Amade, a Nigerian citizen, lamented: “whether Boko haram or Fulani herdsmen. The menace shows that the Federal Government of Nigeria is not in full control of its territory.

“It is embarrassing to hear: ‘oh, they are not Nigerians but foreign terrorist”. Why should anybody be able to invade Nigerian villages and towns repeatedly without consequences? PMB, this is serious and you know it. Please act and let not your detractors begin to say you have a hidden agenda.”

An official of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Denja Yakub, simply quoted Edward Murrow who said: “no one can terrorise a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.”