After observing how the activities of herdsmen destabilized the security architecture of our dear nation, Nigeria, as an agriculturist, I wish to comment on this issue and proffer measures to curb the menace.
After reporting to my place of primary assignment as a class teacher during my service year at Katsina State, I was saddled with the responsibility of teaching about 300 students Agricultural sciences and Computer studies. While I stood in the classroom delivering my lesson one day, some young learners of mine started running for cover. Confused over the situation, I summoned the courage to inquire since their security rested on me. “Mallam! Mallam! Yan fashi suna kusa” (Teacher! Teacher! Bandits are around), said Amira, a teenage female student in my class. Her response jolted me. This group of people has been inflicting harm on the people in Northern Nigeria for decades. When they attack a community, countless livestock will be rustled from poor rural farmers, with the proceeds used to buy weapons for the recruitment of more followers. “How do I escape from this trouble? Maybe I should jump through the window”, I said to no one in particular. I summoned courage and asked my students to remain calm. After observing the school surroundings and being sure harm was averted, I returned to the class to calm the nerves of my perplexed students while security personnel took over the situation. While this is ongoing in the far North, the experiences of people living in the middle belt regions of Plateau and Benue States are worse. According to a report sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), over 400 people were killed, and more than 100 others were wounded, raped or kidnapped in attacks on settlements and farming communities in just one Nigerian state in 2023. Two years on, but these attacks have intensified across Southern Nigeria, where many of the indigenes are crop farmers.
Benue, which is regarded as the “food basket of the nation,” has been unable to live up to its full potential because of insecurity. Thousands have been displaced from their ancestral homes to seek refuge in internally displaced persons camps across the state, while farm lands are occupied by herdsmen and their livestock. Just last week, Premium Times reported that fifty-two people, including minors, lost their lives in coordinated attacks on some communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. Although some unscrupulous members of society have taken up arms under the guise of herdsmen to unleash terror on innocent Nigerians, the fact remains that the majority of the attacks have been linked to herdsmen.
What’s the way forward?
Firstly, since the attacks have been linked to the reprisals for the destruction of farmers’ crops and herdsmen's livestock, our traditional rulers need to call the representatives of the warring groups together to listen to their grievances. When this is done, settlement in the area of crops destroyed by the activities of herdsmen and livestock rustled in revenge by farmers will be achieved.
During my visit to Northern Nigeria in 2019, I discovered that a large expanse of land that could accommodate the entire population of cattle in Nigeria is available there. With the population of the country over 200 million people, the transhumance system of livestock rearing is no longer feasible. Instead of allowing these herdsmen to move southward during the dry season in search of pasture, the Nigerian government should use the large expanse of land in Northern Nigeria to build ranches and grazing reserves for these herdsmen. This will help the government to monitor their movement, discourage the spread of zoonotic diseases, and reduce the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
Furthermore, the security agents need to sit up. It’s very worrisome that the security agents who should be up and doing to protect the lives and properties of vulnerable Nigerians allow these gunmen to ravage communities without restrictions. Henceforth, this needs to stop. The life of every Nigerian is precious and must be protected at all costs.
In addition, it is very unfortunate that some leaders elected by the populace play games with the lives of Nigerians just to gain cheap popularity. Of what use is it for Nigerians to be killed just because you want to get security bailouts? Of what use? What do you gain when your people are macheted in their sleep just because you seek to contest for an elective position? Of what use is it, Sir/Madam? Wrestle the answer with your conscience. Many forests in the Southern part of the country have become home to herdsmen and kidnappers. I cringed in shame when I heard that a Nigerian army General was kidnapped, and before his release, ransom had to be paid. Can this happen in countries that are serious about the security of their people? To this end, community leaders should evacuate all these illegal occupants and hand over our forests to the forest guards. Laws that will restrict the use of firearms by herdsmen should be enacted and enforced. When this is in place, there will be a reduction in the attacks.
According to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate in Nigeria was 4.3% in the second quarter of 2024. Since many of these unemployed youths are often wooed to take up arms and engage in criminal activities, they should be recruited into the security forces to empower them economically and discourage them from crime.
Finally, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.” As a nation, we need to humble ourselves before God and ask for forgiveness. The innocent blood spilled is already crying to God, but with humility and repentance, He will heal our land.