PIN ANALYSIS OF THE HERDSMEN KILLINGS IN NIGERIA

PROPOSITIONS: What are people saying about the problem?

Media Reports & Public Discourse:

Fulani Identity of Attackers:

• Channels TV, Premium Times, and Vanguard have consistently reported that victims and security agents identify the attackers as armed Fulani herdsmen, a narrative supported by community leaders, though not all Fulani are involved.
• Amnesty International reports and SBM Intelligence briefings also validate these claims, noting patterns in attacks that resemble ethnic cleansing.

Disgruntlement with Government:

• Some herders claim their actions are reprisals for cattle rustling and government neglect.
• Yet, many Nigerians perceive these attacks as orchestrated and sponsored, rather than spontaneous.

Sleeper Cells and Arms Buildup:

• Investigations by The Guardian Nigeria and Daily Trust show that in remote areas, militias operate with military-grade weapons, suggesting long-term planning and external funding.

Kidnapping as a Fundraising Strategy:

• Multiple media outlets report the ransom industry is booming, with even schoolchildren and clergy being high-value targets. In many cases, security forces arrive only after ransom is paid.

Elite Complicity:

• Public opinion, reflected in columns and editorials from The Nation and Punch Newspapers, often implicates political elites, with calls for open investigations into sponsorship networks.

Core Regions of Operation:

• States like Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Niger, Taraba, and Kaduna continue to be killing fields. Even Ondo, Ekiti, and Edo have had incidents.
• Benue alone recorded over 134 deaths in one week in April 2023 (Vanguard, April 2023).

Government Inaction:

• President Buhari’s administration (2015–2023) faced national and international criticism for failing to declare the herdsmen as terrorists until very late.
• The Tinubu administration has not yet shown decisive movement on reversing this trend either.

INTERESTS: What is at stake?

National Unity & Sovereignty:

• The unchecked violence is eroding national cohesion, especially as some regions consider self-defense militias (e.g., Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in the South-East).

Freedom and Human Dignity:

• The killings challenge the basic right to life and free movement. People are now afraid to travel across state lines, attend rural Masses, or return to their farms.

The Moral Voice of the Church:

• The Church’s credibility is being tested. The faithful expect prophetic leadership, not just prayers.

Credibility of Government:

• A government that cannot secure its people is slowly losing legitimacy in the eyes of citizens and the international community.

NEEDS: What must be done?

For Citizens and Faith-Based Organizations:

Document and Publish Victim Testimonies:

• Collect verified stories of survivors, families of victims, and communities impacted, especially through Catholic media networks like Lumen Christi TV, CANA, or Veritas FM.
• Use photojournalism, short videos, and podcasts to make these stories unignorable.

Organize Regular Peace Walks and Prayer Protests:

• Encourage Diocesan coordinated marches during key Church feasts or national anniversaries. The clergy must be physically seen leading the people.

Create a Faith-Led Truth Commission:

• Led by bodies like CBCN (Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria) and CSN, this would gather independent reports on atrocities, especially in Benue, Southern Kaduna, and Zamfara.

Educate the Laity on Advocacy:

• Host parish-based forums where parishioners are taught their rights, basic security protocols, and ways to effectively engage elected officials.

For Government:

Publicly Acknowledge the Crisis for What It Is—Terrorism:

• Categorize armed herdsmen as domestic terrorists, enforce the Anti-Terrorism Act, and empower the DSS, Civil Defence, and local vigilantes.

Launch a Victims Compensation Scheme:

• Especially for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara.

Deploy State-of-the-Art Surveillance:

• The government must invest in drone technology and satellite mapping for remote region surveillance. These are no longer optional.

Disarm All Unauthorized Militias:

• Both herdsmen and ethnic militias must be subject to mass disarmament under a nationally monitored program.

Name, Shame and Prosecute Sponsors:

• Create a special tribunal for terrorism sponsors, and ensure media access to trials.

Final Word: A Call to Moral Action

The silence is deafening. We cannot normalize bloodshed. The Church, especially in places like Uromi, Auchi, Otukpo, Makurdi, Sokoto, Katsina, and Zaria, must emerge as the collective conscience of the nation. This isn’t about politics. It’s about the soul of Nigeria.

We priests, religious, and laity must lead by example, unafraid, unapologetic, and united. Our voice must thunder in the streets and on the altars:

“Nigeria, thou shalt not kill thy children anymore!”