It’s the body count that decides how outraged we get

The police in plateau said it was just 11 people , they later back tracked saying it was 86 people , as conflicting reports fly around- residents have insisted no less than 200 people were involved- homes, motorcycles and houses that were razed.

The Fulani Herdsmen have been named  by Global terrorism index as the fourth most deadly terrorist group in the world  you can read the report here  global terrorism index reports  

“These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing of human beings, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission,” “Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks”  Danladi Ciroma, Chairman, North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria .

The audacity you would rightly say, but what gives the herdsmen such grandstanding? Let’s examine a few statements by the country’s high ranking officials

Minister of Defense Masur- Dan Ali

He recommended the suspension of anti-grazing law operational in Benue, Taraba and Ekiti states. He said the suspension will calm the tension in the volatile states, especially in the middle belt.   Side note;  Anti crazing law stipulates that herdsmen should ranch their wandering cattle or face fines.

“There is need to employ other channels with the affected states to reduce tension by suspending the implementation of the anti-open grazing law while also negotiating safe routes for the herders” 

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has also told state Governors to suspend the anti-open grazing laws;

According to him it’s one of the ways to end deadly clashes between herders and farmers.
He said this when the senate summoned him to give  an update on investigation into the new year massacre in Benue. 

The IGP gave the  same advice again  during a  Security Summit held in Kaduna. According to him, “ State Governments should endeavor to establish grazing ranches in their various states before enacting laws to prohibit open rearing and grazing”

But Fayose replied through his spokesperson: Cattle farming is a business like every other business. Governments don’t go about building poultry for poultry farmers. Governments don’t go about building fisheries for fish farmers. Governments don’t go about building piggeries for pig farmers.

The Emir of Kano on Fulani Herdsmen
“The Killings in the middle belt were perpetrated by both the herdsmen and the locals, but the murder of herdsmen are not being accurately reported thereby presenting a false narrative of one sided killings. The point I am making is that we are living in a country that has failed to protect the lives of people on all sides and bring culprits to book”

Asked whether the anti-grazing law in Benue State is the right approach, the monarch said that the law was divisive and unfair to the Fulani herdsmen. Sanusi said the law deepened the indigene/settler dichotomy and made the herdsmen feel isolated.

When your boss is the IGP and he disagrees with the anti-grazing law implemented by the states- that takes us to problem number 4

The House of Representatives in march this year had to compel the nation’s security agencies to enforce the law banning open grazing in Benue state. The resolutions were sequel to a motion raised during plenary on Thursday by Hassan Saleh, a lawmaker from Benue.

About 26 persons were reportedly killed in a recent clash involving herdsmen and residents in the state.  According to Saleh Security forces allow the herdsmen do whatever they want

The presidency and some rather suspicious bills  

National Grazing Reserve (Establishment) Bill 2016”,; According to the bill, each state of the Federation has to donate some hectares of land to be used for grazing. that means land can be taken from farmers and other property owners and given to the cattle -men

Reports say the presidency introduced the National Water Resources Bill to the National Assembly (NASS) seeking  to control over every water body in the country. then sneak in the herdsmen through the back door to drink of it .

Both bills did not see the light of day. Never though i would thank The Nigerian senate for a job well done

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, is also a cattle rearer- (not that it means anything) – just saying though.

But he says its about food security *eyes rolling* the damn obsession with cows . Just two weeks ago; our chief of army staff was more obsessed with cattle rustling

He charged officers to redouble effort toward tackling the spate of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the country while felicitating with soldiers on the occasion of 2018 Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

Sultan of Sokoto – they are not terrorist

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Thursday insisted that any Fulani man carrying arms and ammunition is not a member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.‎ According to him, Miyetti Allah is not a criminal organisation.

He likened the group to other socio-cultural organisations like the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Arewa Consultative Forum. He noted that it was formed over 32 years ago to cater for welfare and advance the growth of Fulani business

Grazing ongoing on the National Assembly grounds in Abuja? Someone should tell me it is one of those rumours… pic.twitter.com/o9lMOCsACv

— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) June 25, 2018

“The recent massacre of innocent people by suspected Fulani herdsmen was a result of promulgation of anti-grazing laws and blockade of grazing routes.Since the nation’s independence, we know there used to be a route which the cattle herders take.

If these routes are blocked, what do you expect will happen? Herdsmen are also Nigerians. Communities must learn to live with foreigners within their enclave”
The statement above is credited to Nigerian’s Ministry of defense.