Danger of lawless Fulani herdsmen

Nigeria has been at the security crossroads in recent years with the emergence of militant groups in the Niger Delta and terrorist bands like Boko Haram in the North, who kidnap, maim and kill with impunity.
As bad as that is, nothing seems to compare with the new nightmare in town – the menace of Fulani herdsmen, who take the vicious art of killing and maiming a notch higher.
The deadly escapades of these arms-bearing marauders are very unsettling.
On Thursday, April 20, a non-academic employee of the Delta State University, Abraka, John Ogeleke, was kidnapped in Kwale, Delta State by Fulani herdsmen, who demanded N5 million as ransom for his release.
A few days earlier, Ogbobe Stephen, an auditor with the Enugu State government, was abducted at Uzo-Uwani Council Area of the state. His abductors also demanded N5 million as ransom for his release.
In March, Idoma people of Agatu Council Area in Benue State had a raw deal when herdsmen murdered over 300 of their kith and kin, including women and children.
The tales of woe are endless and bloodcurdling.
Recent reports said more Nigerians have been killed by Fulani herdsmen since January this year than by Boko Haram.
The implication is that even as the government successfully battles the terrorists in the North East and effectively degrades their ability to kill and maim, a new evil has reared its head.
Today, Nigeria boasts a worse terrorism record than Somalia, a failed state.
According to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index, which identifies the Fulani militants as a terrorist group, only Iraq and Afghanistan suffered worse terror attacks than Nigeria in 2014.
Of the 20 deadliest terror attacks globally in 2014, nine occurred in Nigeria, with Boko Haram – which overtook the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as the deadliest terror group – taking credit for eight.
The ninth, an attack in Galadima, which claimed over 200 lives, was attributed to Fulani herdsmen.
While Boko Haram claimed 6,644 lives, Fulani militants, named as the fourth deadliest terrorists in the world, killed 1,229.
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, warned last week that Nigeria may be heading for the rocks if the incessant killings are not checked.
Mimiko bemoaned the nefarious activities of the herdsmen, saying their rampage had become a monster threatening the security and unity of the country.
“I can see us moving towards a precipice and we must do something about it as early as possible; it is getting dangerous, the audacity is very disturbing.
“These herdsmen must be called to order, these wanton destructions, audacious incursions in other people’s territory, cannot continue for too long,” he said.
Most Nigerians are as worried as Mimiko.
The sight of Fulani herdsmen with their cattle in our necks of the wood is not strange. We all grew up with them. Then, their only ‘weapons’ were the sticks they used in herding their flock. There was no friction between them and farmers.
Even where cows occasionally strayed into farmlands, disputes were usually resolved amicably because there was no intent to cause mischief.
But now, herdsmen are armed with the most sophisticated weapons and Nigerians are wondering about the source. Are they licensed to bear arms? If they are not, why is it difficult to disarm them?
Security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of the government. It is ironic that a government that rode to power wearing a security epaulet has not deemed it fit to address the nation on the activities of Fulani herdsmen.
Why has President Muhammadu Buhari – who said in far away China recently that Niger Delta militants sabotaging oil infrastructure will be treated as Boko Haram terrorists – lost his voice?
It is equally ironic that at a time the government is talking about the diversification of the economy, using agriculture as the pivot, herdsmen have a free rein in destroying farmlands.
There is urgent need for Abuja to intervene before the victims resort to self-help.
Animal husbandry is not rocket science. Even in Argentina, the world’s largest producer of cows, herdsmen do not roam the bushes with their cattle as we do in Nigeria.
Governments that are serious have ranches for animal husbandry.
Buhari must not continue to play the ostrich because this was how the Boko Haram menace threatening to consume all of us started.
The government must rein in this evil force now before it is too late.