It is often said that the wiseman learned from the pitfall of others. The way and manner Fulani herdsmen have wrecked havoc both in the core north and the Middle Belt under the guise of avenging the killing of a single cow, one would have thought that an average ljaw sons and daughters have learnt a lesson and be guided. Unfortunately, this appears not to be. That Governor Dickson allocated 1200 hectares of land in a state where land is a scare resources, to Fulani herdsmen to run their private business, speaks volume of how men ignored the lesson learnt from history.
History taught us that Fulani tribe is inherently and consistently in quest for ethnic domination of other ethnic groups. Their quest to dominate others mostly began as holy wars (Jihads).
The Fulanis are traditionally nomadic, pastoralists, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of the sub-saharan Africa; keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural populations.
The Fulanis’ movements in West Africa tended to follow a set pattern. Their first movement into an area tended to be peaceful. Local officials gave them land grants. Their dairy products, including fertilizer, were highly prized. The number of converts to Islam increased over time. With that increments, Fulanis’ resentment at being ruled by pagans, or imperfect Muslims, increased. Once their population grow to a large number, they will then revolt against their host on the pretense of avenging the past or cattle rustling. The actual truth is that the Fulani herdsmen see others as pagans. The Koran taught them not to allow an infidel to govern them. See koran 8:12 which said thus: “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off.”
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF FULANI HERDSMEN’S JIHADS IN NIGERIA.
Prior to 1804-1808, the Fulani herdsmen migrated from North Africa to Northern Nigeria under the firm control of Hausa kings. The Herdsmen came as cattle rearers. Hausa kings gave them land to rear their stocks. As their number grew larger, they revolted against their hosts and dominated them. Between 1804–1808, Usman Dan Fodio assembled his Fulani army of conquest to lead a jihad against the Hausa kingdoms of the northern of Nigeria. The forces of Usman Dan Fodio slowly took over more and more of the Hausa kingdoms, capturing Gobir in 1808 and executing Yunfa, the then Hausa king in the present day, Sokoto. The war resulted in the creation of the Sokoto Caliphate, headed by Usman Dan Fodio.
After that success, they proceeded to expand their Caliphate to the South and battled several tribes and kingdom. Their quest to conquer the sea was frustrated by British colonization of Nigeria.
Presently, the constant harassments, genocides and destructions of properties of Christians is a continuation of Usman Dan Fodio’s jihad in Nigeria. More than 13,500 people have been killed in communal violence since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 (HRW, 2010a). The ‘Middle Belt’ region, to which Plateau State belongs, is one of the areas worst hit. The 2001 Jos riot claimed at least 1,000 lives (HRW, 2001).
From Jos in Plateau State, the tribes of Berom, Anaguta and Afizere to Benue and Taraba State among the tribes TIV’s, Junkuns and the Agatus, it is a story of sorrow, tears and death. Abiodun Kuforiji Nkwocha summed up the horror and genocidal acts poetically in the following words: “What would you say if I told you that between last year and this year an estimated 11,000 people have been killed in Plateau State, mainly in Berom communities? What if I told you that over 40 villages have been sacked and some wiped out completely in Berom communities alone? I would ask you what you have heard.You would tell me that you heard that the Berom people are cattle rustlers. I ask you how an 18 month old baby could rustle cattle? I would ask you how a 6 month old foetus even knew about cattle? I would ask you how the whole communities collide and steal cattle? I will ask you how many cows are worth 11,000 lives? I would ask you how hundreds of thousands of people have had to flee their ancestral lands, farms and houses because they have been condemned to die for allegedly rustling cattle. I would ask you whether the wages of cattle rustling is death?
Then you would be puzzled and ask me what was so special about Berom land?
I will tell you of land rich from the top to the bottom. I will tell you of the unmined lands of tin in Kuru. I would tell you of the columbite in Bisichi. I would tell you about Gasish, Rim, Foron, Vat and so many other mineral rich areas.
I will tell you about the Beroms that have been terrorized out of their lands. I will tell you of the Fulanis who have discovered that mining makes faster and easier money than herding. I will tell you of hectares and hectares of land lying fallow.
For their husbands are missing fleeing, dying or dead. I will tell you about empty huts and houses. I will tell you about burnt settlements. I will tell you about the new owners. You will agree with me that it is not just a war. It is genocide.”
Just yesterday ,herdsmen, numbering over 20, blocked the Ohorhor-Bomadi Road, Delta State, attacking and dispossessing passengers of their valuables.
The question is: is this the legacy Governor Dickson want to bequeath to generations of unborn ljaw children many years after he has joined our ancestors. Legacy of tears, sorrow and death? The political and economic gain our most respected Governor in ljawland hope to advance in exposing his people to imminent genocide, does it worth the blood of one ljaw child ? what will he say to our ancestors? That he left their up springs in the merciless hands of the Fulani herdsmen? I do not think that Governor Dickson’s ill-informed decision should be allowed to hold sway.
l, therefore, call on sons and daughters of ljaws nation. Old and young to stand with our ljaw mama, Ann-kio Briggs. Let us march side by side with her. Together, we shall make him hear us and rescind his decision. We shall occupy the gate of Government House, Yenogoa and pin tents there until he reverses his decision. Come with sleeping mats. It is operation occupy Government House.
Barr. Comrade Dickson Bekederemo,
President, NIGER-DELTA Security Watch organization of Nigeria ( NDSWON)
