Of course, they spoke for their constituency, the body of religionists they led. One complaint that is well known by now is that their followers are targeted in these attacks. It was how many of those concerned across the country had been putting it since the spike in armed attacks on farms and communities happened over a decade ago. So, it was clear that the guests believed one thing regarding the attacks, while their host was convinced of another.
The President expressed his belief that this issue largely stems from feelings of insecurity rather than an organized effort to eliminate a particular group of religious believers. This situation raises questions about how widespread acceptance of the President’s statement might be nationwide, particularly among those convinced that there is a large-scale religious plot aimed at their annihilation. Claims akin to these surfaced during the heat of the 2015 presidential race and continue to emerge today concerning the recent uptick in violent incidents. It often puzzles me when Nigerians embrace narratives like these, considering events such as the abduction of more than two hundred girls in Chibok; despite national security forces failing both to respond promptly or locate the victims even years later.
What the President articulated has been my stance shared here for more than ten years, which led to numerous adversaries. This realization makes me think that within governmental circles, individuals siding with the President's viewpoint remain scarce. The difficulty arises when public servants ought to rely on factual evidence instead of emotional responses. Not long ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release echoing statements the President conveyed to visitors, prompting speculation about whether these diplomats genuinely endorsed their own work. Aside from this particular instance where an official body responded to efforts undermining Nigeria’s image abroad, I can’t remember another time when a state department proactively clarified points raised by the President during such meetings. Evidently, civil servants tend to stick firmly to predetermined opinions rather than reassessing them regularly.
In the initial six paragraphs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press release, all the points made echoed what I have been discussing for more than ten years now. Additionally, I emphasized that enhancing security measures so that criminals could be swiftly apprehended and punished would likely halt these assaults. During my extensive trips through the Northeast, Northwest, and North Central regions of our nation, I gained firsthand insight into the circumstances surrounding each incident. Although attacks might seem alike at first glance, each one stems from distinct local factors known primarily by locals as well as intelligence agencies, which inform every administration accordingly. Notably, out of numerous reporters who ventured extensively throughout these areas, only a few conveyed the same message articulated by the President regarding this issue. Most others opted instead for emotional rhetoric, leveraging their outlets to propagate narratives suggesting that adherents of certain faiths faced systematic annihilation. These individuals seldom address incidents affecting followers of alternative principal religions; hence, they perceive this nationwide crisis solely concerning those affiliated with particular groups and beliefs.
As a seasoned journalist with extensive travel experience who interacts regularly with individuals from various tribes and religious backgrounds, I am aware of numerous underlying reasons behind several incidents occurring in regions like the North-Central, Northeast, and Northwest. One common thread is the consistent criticism directed at security forces for their delayed responses and failure to apprehend criminals in areas including Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Benue, among others. In particular locations within the Northern part of Nigeria, these events often receive dramatic labels such as "ethnic cleansing." The loss of life and property understandably evokes strong emotions, making it challenging to prevent people from labeling these occurrences according to personal perspectives. Consequently, our primary objective ought to center around addressing what the president identifies as the core issue—namely, insecurity—and taking appropriate action accordingly.
The issue of farmer-herder conflicts, which has escalated into a nationwide emergency, initially affected mainly areas in the distant north without drawing significant media attention. During the military rule in Northeastern Nigeria during the 1990s, pastoralists would enter from Niger periodically throughout the year, moving across cultivated lands and leaving behind tales of distress. For example, within Northern Gombe State, after harvest seasons like those with watermelon fields, farmers found that overnight, herders traversed their land slicing open melons or damaging other produce for livestock consumption before vanishing as dawn approached. To address this problem, state authorities deployed troops to prevent further incursions until crops could be safely gathered.
A resident—a member of the Fulani community living in town, practicing Islam—recounted his experiences owning farmland here. He explained how similar incidents occurring in Southern regions of Gombe—with populations predominantly adhering to another prominent faith—often sparked fears among locals about potential genocidal plots; however, he emphasized that no one intended anything so extreme.
The scale of the crisis faced by Northerners practicing different major religions has been significant, although such issues rarely receive national attention. People across various regions endure numerous challenges. Several years back, I observed a non-Fulani young adult acting aggressively towards two Fulani youths along a pathway. When questioned about his behavior, he explained that herders had assaulted several villages in remote areas of Kebbi State. Consequently, his family decided to move to Katsina State due to fears of continued violence; they abandoned their farms as well. Meanwhile, he ventured into the North-Central region seeking employment opportunities.
While staying in Zaria within Kaduna State, frequent violent incidents targeting Giwa Local Government Area occurred close to Ahmadu Bello University’s Samaru campus. The tension among residents at Samaru became palpable after bandit raids struck Giwa. As safety concerns escalated, travelers heading toward Katsina opted to halt their journeys overnight in Zaria since travel routes remained unsafe. During my stay, I recounted having to postpone multiple scheduled meetings with Giwa LGA authorities due to sudden severe assaults on nearby communities. Notably, recently, the Kaduna State administration extended amnesty offers to bandits active around Giwa territory. It should also be noted that nobody has labeled these attacks as attempts aimed at eradicating followers of specific religious beliefs predominant in those zones.
Nevertheless, investigations conducted in Kaduna State revealed that retaliatory assaults ensuing from conflicts between herdsmen and farmers occurring on agricultural lands have been frequent since 2013. Often, such clashes began with disputes over livestock grazing crops followed by acts of violence. These counterattacks escalate into spiraling cycles of retaliation, occasionally perceived as baseless aggressions, although they do mirror underlying tensions. A closer look indicates instances where neither side emerges purely innocent nor wholly culpable. This nuanced perspective might be hard for those emotionally invested in the issue to accept. However, it remains crucial to acknowledge that these complexities are precisely what the President aimed to address when speaking both within that meeting hall and throughout the country at large.
Throughout the years, as I've consistently stated, particularly for individuals like myself who view these incidents as consequences of insufficient national security measures, our priority should be enhancing security provisions. This sentiment from the President isn’t new; he's pinpointing precisely where the issue lies. It brings me comfort since recognizing the root cause of a problem is crucial—otherwise, addressing symptoms rather than causes could lead us astray with ineffective solutions.
He is echoing my own observations from working as a journalist in the field, where I too resided in each of the three northern geopolitical regions.
What should logically follow after the President states his beliefs? What approach might convince both his audience and their supporters nationwide about his perspective? In my view, this would involve establishing robust security measures that successfully prevent armed assaults at the grassroots level. It's crucial to pursue such strategies since visitors likely seek practical resolutions from the President instead of engaging in blame games. Additionally, once these acts of violence cease, inflammatory theories alleging genocidal conspiracies—often propagated by certain groups—will lose traction.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
0 Comments