ACTIVITIES THE FULANI HEADSMEN A THREAD TO PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

ACTIVITIES THE FULANI HEADSMEN A THREAD TO PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

Having just returned from Chamba land (Jada, Ganye, Mayo-Belwa, and Toungo local government area) for the Christmas and New Year break; with a heavy heart one has to share in the pains of the famers who have toiled throughout the rainy season and are now seeing their yield being destroyed deliberately by the cattle of the Fulani herdsmen. The Fulani herdsmen are taking their cattle in farms wherever they notice there is no one at sight. We must have to use any medium available to call on the government of Adamawa State  and Fulani herdsmen through their association Miyotti Allah to find ways to stopping the loses the herdsmen are causing the farmers.

There was a case where the farmer after harvesting his guinea corn well parked and covered herders came and open it up for their cattle to feast on it. Many famers have their crops destroyed at night by the herders. In Toungo Local government area recently the herders attacked a farmer and wounded him severely on his farm simply because he accosted them as they graze on his unharvest farm.

These herders have not only posed threat to farms and farmers but to the entire area. Women are afraid to go out to farms alone now because the herders have also resorted to gang raping local women. Some of these herders walk around with very scanty number of cattle but with sophisticated weapons. They carry those weapons everywhere and no one seem to ask them any question.

With the pains already created in North Eastern Nigeria which will result in shortage food supply if the activities of these people are not checked there is definitely going to be food crisis. It is unfortunately that the same Fulani herdsmen depend on the food crops produced by the farmers for their survival as well. Their actions of deliberately putting cattle on farms are tantamount to the act of terrorism and the government is therefore called upon to do something about it.

If the farmers are not defended by the government and the herders association, they (farmers) could resort to defending themselves which of course will not be good for the so cherished peace. No one is denying the herders their fundamental right of freedom of movement and lawful activities but if they chose to trample on other people’s right, it will not be accepted.