The conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue, resulting in violence and loss of lives.
Nigerian security operatives, comprising soldiers, police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), reportedly attacked thousands of women protesting against herdsmen killings in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzu Local Government Area of the southeastern state of Enugu.
The security operatives were reportedly deployed by Governor Peter Mbah-led Enugu State government, who allegedly wanted to suppress reports of herdsmen attacks and insecurity in the state.
The violence started when the women apprehended two individuals, accused of masterminding herdsmen attacks in Eha-Amufu, community sources said.
While one of the suspects escaped, the women reportedly held the other and paraded him through the communities, with the government immediately sending soldiers, anti-riot police, and NSCDC personnel to intervene.
“On getting to Eke, the central market, hundreds of soldiers and policemen blocked us. We pleaded with the security agents to leave our way since they could not protect them. When the security agents refused, we went back to Eha-Ohala and hid him in Umujove community and reinforced in our hundreds and came back to the town,” one of the leading protesters, identified as Mrs. Regina Odoh told reporters.
“But the soldiers and policemen pursued us and blocked the major road we could come out to the town. On hearing what soldiers and policemen who could not protect us when Fulani herdsmen were attacking, killing, and rapping us, other women from five communities in Eha-Amufu mobilized and stormed the town where the security agents blocked and surrounding them. Immediately, they started shooting both live ammunition and teargas on the protesting women.
“The women accused them of aiding the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen on their people and still want to shot their mouths from crying to the world. While the soldiers and police were shooting and teargas at them, they responded by pelting them with stones and sticks. In the chaotic scene the security team shot four and wounded several women who have been taken to hospital now.”
The protesting women called the council chairman, Obiora Obeagu, saboteurs who profit from the blood of hundreds of Eha-Amufu people that herdsmen had killed in the past five years in their farms and homes.
One of the women said in a trending video: “Mr. Israel Mgborogwu is from Mgbuji community. He is an agent of government and collaborators of Fulani herdsmen. He works as a media aide to the Isi Uzo LGA chairman Mr Obiora Obeagu.
“They (Isi-Uzu Council Chairman, Donatus Odoh and Israel) claimed that the woman who died after Fulani herdsmen raped and inserted stick in her private part didn’t die. They went and brought another woman who was earlier raped to claim that no raped woman died. They said that only one person had been killed in Eha-Amufu since November last year. This is a capital lie.
“In the past two weeks no fewer than four women had been raped in their farm by Fulani herdsmen. They attacked Amofia Umuhu Eha-Amufu village, killed a final year graduate – late Ndubuisi in their compound and shot his uncle on the leg. While Ndubuisi, an only child was buried last week, his uncle is still in hospital. His killers also burnt down two houses and looted four others yet the government officials and some disgruntled elements from the community went to the media to brand our protest sponsored.
“If the government and security agencies cannot protect us they shouldn’t suppress our outcry.”
Police and military authorities could not be reached for comments.
The conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue, resulting in violence and loss of lives.
The Fulani people are believed to be the largest semi-nomadic group globally, found across West and Central Africa. In Nigeria, some continue to live as semi-nomadic herders, while others have moved to cities. Unlike city dwellers, the nomadic groups spend most of their lives in the bush and are often involved in clashes with farming communities, and also engage in kidnapping for ransom. They herd their animals across vast areas, frequently clashing with local farmers.
The herders now bear sophisticated weapons and use them to terrorize many parts of the country, with security operatives ignoring many of the attacks for allegedly not getting orders to go after the criminals.
Several brutal attacks happened under former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was born to a Fulani family on 17 December 1942, in Daura, a town in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria.
The continuous unprovoked attacks triggered resistance in South-East region, inhabited by Igbo people and South-West region, inhabited by the Yoruba people.
A Yoruba activist and philanthropist, Chief Dr. Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, demanded end to the attacks that have cost lives of thousands. He asked the Fulani people to vacate all the forests in South-West Nigeria.
As the Akoni Oodua of Yorubaland, he is known for fighting for the rights of the Yoruba people. He is currently advocating for a sovereign Yoruba country.
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