A group, Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) has stated that every land in the country, from the North to the Southern part of the country belongs to the Fulani ethnic group.
“We have said it over and over, that Nigeria is the only inheritance we have in Africa and anywhere in the world. This land belongs to us, from Sokoto to the banks of the Atlantic Ocean. This was the destiny bestowed on Uthman Dan Fodio which would have been fulfilled since 1816 if not for the obstruction of this great assignment by the British”. A statement from FUNAM read in part.
This is not the first time the group would be making what many considered as inciting statement as it had in 2018 justify the killing of over 200 people in 11 villages in Plateau State by men suspected to be Fulani militias.
“The killings in Barkin Ladi was motivated by previous killings of FULANI men and women by Birom youths in collaboration with certain minority ethnic groups in PLATEAU. We hereby justify this retaliatory attack and warn that we shall continue to defend ourselves and uphold the FULANI heritage now and in the future. Let it be known that the Fulani Special Force coordinated the attacks. The statement then added that: For the avoidance of doubt, our heritage is that ANY ATTACK ON A SINGLE FULANI IS AN ATTACK ON ALL. ANY OF SUCH ATTACKS MUST BE COUNTERED WITH TRIPLE MEASURE”.
“That we have said it several times that Plateau is an indigenous territory of the FULANI people. We are the first to settle in the Plateau-Benue axis thousands of years ago. We shall take and possess every inch of this land; A conscious attempt to rewrite history and distort, manipulate or destroy our past will be resisted with all the might at our disposal,” the message, which went viral on social media continued.
In its latest statement signed by its President, Badu Salisu Ahmadu, the group said the recent killing in Plateau State was a retaliatory attack on the Fulani tribe by Birom ethnic group.
Ahmadu claimed that Plateau-Benue and the rest of Nigeria is an indigenous territory of the FULANI people saying “we are the first to settle in the Plateau-Benue axis thousands of years ago. We shall take and possess every inch of this land; a conscious attempt to rewrite history and distort, manipulate or destroy our past will be resisted with all the might at our disposal”.
“We have said it over and over, that Nigeria is the only inheritance we have in Africa and anywhere in the world. This land belongs to us, from Sokoto to the banks of the Atlantic Ocean. This was the destiny bestowed on Uthman Dan Fodio which would have been fulfilled since 1816 if not for the obstruction of this great assignment by the British. It is no longer time to play the ostrich (sic). Our men are waiting. We are eager to fight. We are boiling with the zeal to actualize our dream; enough of double-dealing and ambivalence by FULANI political leaders who unfortunately think the FULANI can only take back what belongs to us through appeasement and elections destined to reflect cultural values antithetical to the preaching of Uthman Dan Fodio.
“That there is a clear agenda to divide Nigeria and exterminate the FULANI people. We are long aware of this plot. We call on FULANI all over Africa to prepare for this inevitable war and set our people on an offensive path rather than being weaklings that choose a defensive strategy in warfare.
“We warn that nothing will be able to save those raising their voices against us and Allah. Nothing will be left behind, from the East, West and Middle Belt except those who accept the creation of Allah and the leadership place of Fulani in fulfilling this destiny. Since this irresponsible Western notion of democracy was imposed, the Fulani have been short-changed and maligned. The Middle-Belt, the West and the East should be prepared. We are already here.
“Let the Birom and the ethnic minority invaders in the entire Middle Belt leave our territory or be prepared to accept our ways of life. It is time for them to savour their wounds. It is just the beginning. Many more will come and nothing can stop us.
“Insha Allah, we shall take this battle across the sea, on the land, in the air, on the mountains, in every territory currently occupied by the Kafirs. This is our position. This is our destiny. For those who think they can stop or continue to conspire against us, we wish them good luck” the statement read.
Lalong Takes Action
Rootstv Nigeria reported last week how the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong ordered the arrest of Fulani and community leaders from Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of the state.
The ethnic leaders were taken to Abuja for further interrogation as a result of the crisis that took place in parts of Bokkos local government area of the state.
The State had witnessed numerous attacks in recent weeks with no less than 15 people reportedly killed in a renewed attack by men suspected to be Fulani Militias.
Will the Conflict Ever End?
The conflict between herders, mainly of Fulani extraction and farmers in the middle-belt and some southern states has claimed many lives and with no end in sight despite some measures put in place to curb it.
The majority of farmer-herder clashes have occurred between Muslim Fulani herdsmen and Christian farmers, exacerbating ethno-religious hostilities. Insecurity and violence have led many populations to create self-defence forces and ethnic militias, which have engaged in further violence.
According to the Global Terrorism Index, these conflicts resulted in over 800 deaths by 2015 alone. The year 2016 saw further incidents in Benue and Enugu States while in 2018, over 200 people were killed and 50 houses were burnt in clashes between farmers and Fulani cattle herders in Plateau State. In an already politically unstable region, it has never always been possible to ascertain a legal title to land for every farmer. As a result, transhumance routes of herders were no longer available especially in the context of global warming.
Also, deteriorating environmental conditions, desertification and soil degradation have led Fulani herdsmen from Northern Nigeria to change their transhumance routes. Access to pastureland and watering points in the Middle Belt became essential for herdsmen travelling from the North of the country.
Solving the Crisis
The Nigerian government has been unable to address the causes of the crisis. Fighting Boko Haram in the North-East and facing rising levels of violence in different regions of the country, the government has none the less tried to implement a few measures.
Since 2012, there have been projects to create transhumance corridors through the Middle Belt. Mostly supported by Northern lawmakers and opposed by their Southern counterparts, these endeavours have been rarely successful.
In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari tried to create Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements. His decision was met with fierce criticism.
