fx45:
When are you going to eschew political correctness from your psyche? Are you boldly telling us that you painstakingly put down that load of garbage under the guise of intellectual discourse?

freeze001:


https://www.google.com.ng/amp/dailypost.ng/2018/01/06/fulani-herdsmen-finally-reveal-attacked-benue-communities/amp/

http://www.dailycorrespondents.com.ng/2018/01/we-attacked-benue-community-in-retaliation-for-our-stolen-1000-cows-miyetti-allah-breeders/

You can read this to see where the leadership of Miyetti clearly accepted responsibility for the attacks. The Benue state governor isn't demanding the arrest of these Miyetti leaders just for the hell of it.

You have been on about how governments step in to build commercial motor parks for commercial transporters and all. Even in all their nuisance, how many of those drivers took up arms and committed murder to get parks marked off and built? Why then must the worst kind of wickedness and sense of entitlement be rewarded by that which they seek?

They should be compelled to embrace modern ranching, the government has already intervened in its agriculture drive hence the availability of loans at low interest rates. They should apply and join others in accessing such facilities. Govt can also provide training but asking them to take lands by whatever means is a hypocritical position to even canvass.

Have u taken cognisance of the psyche of those who have borne the brunt of these incessant, godless attacks? How would they feel having these marauders stationed in their homelands and appearing victorious in their evil quest of murder and destruction?

Those herders and cattle owners come from states. They should approach their respective state governments and those willing to put up with them. The FG getting involved by proposing colonies at that level or applying any form of coercion is nepotism at its best. There are lots of Nigerians completely homeless and helpless. They need help and not wealthy cattle owners taking advantage of the very useless Nigerian system.

laudate:

Please try to be smart. Most Igbo spare parts dealers, build or lease their shops from private owners, and inside market spaces. How many of them did govt build shops for, specifically?

TonyeBarcanista:

It is either you have reading problem or that of comprehension, else, you wouldn't have wrote this.

In every state there is usually parks for commercial cab operators, these parks are not operated by indigenes alone but by Nigerians of different ethnic groups but they are overseen by the state government or FG (in the case of FCT) and a source of revenue. Why didn't you tell the motorists to go buy lands and operate their parks?

In many states, government build blocks of lock-up shops and lease to traders. This system not only make it well coordinated but also attract revenue to the state. Why not go tell each traders to go buy their own lands to build their shops?

Let us try to address issues holistically


It is not a must to comment...

TonyeBarcanista:

How many Igbo(and other) trader build his shop in Lagos, Abuja or Kano? While some rent from government

The peculiarities of the business is that most times government and private developers BUILD these shops and plazas and give to traders on lease. This is a fact! Else, how many trader will buy land and BUILD his shop for trading?

Again, I used the example of motor parks that flood around all 36 states and FCT

plaetton:
Don't mind that ignorant , shallow , stomach infrastructure fellow.

That's the problem with people who live on politics,.they forget how everyone else make an honest living.

baralatie:
where do you put the Fulani cattle rustlers who kill the Fulani cattle rearer for their cows

The complex reality on the ground, is that both pastoralists and farmers, have been victims of the banditry attacks. The attacks are characterized mainly by the use of overwhelming force, as dozens or even hundreds of attackers are involved in an operation. It is this use of overwhelming force that pushes people to flee their villages and settlements. In addition to sheer numbers, attackers tend to be highly organized. Both pastoralists and farmers confirmed that the attackers set up camps, which they use as planning and staging grounds before attacking communities.

A participant in Goe'es village shared his knowledge of the bandits:
"The attackers are usually said to be very organized, sometimes numbering up to 100. There is a story that was told, saying that the rustlers have their chief. At a particular time, the rustlers came to steal the fattened cattle of a Fulani man, and when the Fulani man went to plead with the chief of rustlers, he got some of the cattle back (FGD, November 22, 2014)."

In this case, the gang of attackers appeared to be very similar to other gangs in organized crime which are involved in smuggling, trafficking, and racketeering. If the attackers are in fact organized enough to establish camps as staging grounds, they certainly must have a means of gathering intelligence.

" The attackers come mostly on foot, but sometimes they come in cars and motorcycles. It also seems that the attackers may be supported by helicopters, as sometimes we see helicopters take off and land around the heavily forested areas where the attackers are hiding. (FGD, November 22, 2014)."

Respondents were asked whether indigenes, armed robbers, or Fulani herders were responsible for cattle theft; 50% identified few indigenes as the culpable parties. The remainder was evenly split, with 25% identifying criminal gangs and 25% identifying Fulani herdsmen as the perpetrators. The evidence suggests that cattle rustling is a major rural crime, and is sustained by a carefully networked gang of armed rustlers, which operates under the control of gang leaders.

http://www.nsrp-nigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rural-Banditry-Report.pdf

There is this tendency to see nomadic Fulani herders as the primary perpetrators of rural banditry, including cattle rustling. The fact that Fulani nomads are familiar with the forest tracts tends to reinforce that perception.

There are documented instances of pastoralists who resort to rustling after losing cattle to disease, inclement weather, and violence; there also are Fulani nomads active in the international syndicate of cattle rustlers. Fulani herdsmen, however, are also victims of the illicit transactions (IRIN, 2013).

There were reported cases of cow population depletion around the Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, an area that reportedly experienced cattle theft by criminal gangs. It is believed that the cows lost include some lost by Fulani nomads, as part of the incessant resource conflict with settled farmers and/or fellow Fulani rustlers.

Furthermore, cattle rustling and rural banditry, appear to be tied to the incessant conflict between Fulani herdsmen and crop farmers. The conflict may be connected to the wider context of identity, politics and intergroup relations, including the relationships between pastoralist groups on the one hand, and the Nigerian state system on the other.

Transhumant pastoralists are perceived as violent and deliberately armed to deal with unsuspecting crop farmers; the farmers allege intentional crop damage by animals. The herders, on the other hand, perceive themselves to be victims of political marginalization, lacking a voice within the Nigerian state system.

The exclusion of nomadic Fulani herders from the policy process and their lack of voice is so acute, that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBA), an urban-based Fulani pressure group, stands as the only known civic group that engages in policy advocacy on their behalf. ' In more recent times, there has been a dramatic increase in the spates of conflict between herders and farming communities, alongside the attendant problems of rural banditry and cattle rustling.

Media reports of cattle rustling suggest that victims include large scale, commercial livestock farmers and nomadic pastoralists who graze their cattle across the country. It has been reported that in 2013, gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked the commercial farms of Vice-President Namadi Sambo, along Birnin Gwari road in Kaduna, and also the commercial farms of the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris, in Zaria — taking over 1,000 cows in the former case and 200 in the latter.

High-profile cases of cattle robbery of this nature are commonplace, involving millions of naira (Weekly Trust, May 16, 2015). The powerful effects threaten the very survival of pastoralists. The growing menace of cattle rustling by armed gangs and bandits appears to differ in terms of scale and economic consequences in 'ungoverned' spaces, and territories between Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara States. These armed gangs and bandits routinely raid cattle owned by traditional pastoralists. New criminal gangs, armed with sophisticated weapons, have reportedly carted away cattle in commando-like operations that have resulted in the killings of herders.

Available evidence also suggests that cattle rustling has not only metamorphosed into an immensely sophisticated and efficient organized crime, it is now also motivated by both 'subsistence' and 'commercial' imperatives.

With specific reference to the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State where cattle rustling and related criminal activities have been concentrated, Tukur says, "Almost all the entire herds around that area have been stolen. In fact that belt – the belt from Birnin Gwari, through Funtua, Faskari, parts of Zamfara going to Anchau – that is like a no man's land, for cattle rustlers and bandits. Every cow there has been stolen, including cows belonging to generals and top civil servants; talk less of small herdsmen whose names you don't hear..." (Tukur, June 11, 2013).

http://www.nsrp-nigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rural-Banditry-Report.pdf

TonyeBarcanista:
By TonyeBarcanista

laudate:

Yes, they did! I am familiar with how the property on 6 Ikorodu road in Jibowu was bought and developed by Chisco Transport, one of the luxurious bus owners. That property belonged to a family in Lagos, and they initially rented it to Chief Ajaegbu before finally selling it to his company. It was NOT given to them by govt. The bus park is next to the old Edo Line terminal in Jibowu. Lagos State Govt is now asking them to relocate from there, to Ojota

Even at Maza-Maza opposite Festac in Lagos, where most of the luxurious bus owners have their parks, they rented the property from the private owners of the buildings beside the road, and extended the land in front of it, to accommodate their buses. Govt did not dash Chisco, Young Shall Grow or Ifesinachi the land. Oga, go and check your facts.

plaetton:


Don't mind that ignorant , shallow , stomach infrastructure fellow.

That's the problem with people who live on politics,.they forget how everyone else make an honest living.

freeze001:


https://www.google.com.ng/amp/dailypost.ng/2018/01/06/fulani-herdsmen-finally-reveal-attacked-benue-communities/amp/

http://www.dailycorrespondents.com.ng/2018/01/we-attacked-benue-community-in-retaliation-for-our-stolen-1000-cows-miyetti-allah-breeders/

You can read this to see where the leadership of Miyetti clearly accepted responsibility for the attacks. The Benue state governor isn't demanding the arrest of these Miyetti leaders just for the hell of it.

You have been on about how governments step in to build commercial motor parks for commercial transporters and all. Even in all their nuisance, how many of those drivers took up arms and committed murder to get parks marked off and built? Why then must the worst kind of wickedness and sense of entitlement be rewarded by that which they seek?

They should be compelled to embrace modern ranching, the government has already intervened in its agriculture drive hence the availability of loans at low interest rates. They should apply and join others in accessing such facilities. Govt can also provide training but asking them to take lands by whatever means is a hypocritical position to even canvass.

Have u taken cognisance of the psyche of those who have borne the brunt of these incessant, godless attacks? How would they feel having these marauders stationed in their homelands and appearing victorious in their evil quest of murder and destruction?

Those herders and cattle owners come from states. They should approach their respective state governments and those willing to put up with them. The FG getting involved by proposing colonies at that level or applying any form of coercion is nepotism at its best. There are lots of Nigerians completely homeless and helpless. They need help and not wealthy cattle owners taking advantage of the very useless Nigerian system.

TonyeBarcanista:

It is either you have reading problem or that of comprehension, else, you wouldn't have wrote this.

In every state there is usually parks for commercial cab operators, these parks are not operated by indigenes alone but by Nigerians of different ethnic groups but they are overseen by the state government or FG (in the case of FCT) and a source of revenue. Why didn't you tell the motorists to go buy lands and operate their parks?

In many states, government build blocks of lock-up shops and lease to traders. This system not only make it well coordinated but also attract revenue to the state. Why not go tell each traders to go buy their own lands to build their shops?

Let us try to address issues holistically


It is not a must to comment...

TonyeBarcanista:

How many tribes deal on spare parts in Nigeria? Should we say that all Igbo traders into spare part should go buy land to build their shops?

I believe that what is appropriate is for the government to build ranch and LEASE to breeders

Purehuman:


Igbos buy shops in the north. They even buy land and build plazas. The notion that only igbos sell spare parts in Nigeria seems shallow and makes you look like someone that is not well traveled.

Northerners sell spare parts in many of their markets now.

Purehuman:


Your level of education is alarmingly poor. This is worst I have ever seen an educated man write. Cattle rearing is not a commercial shop but a production line. The mother cow gives birth to a baby cow (production), the herder rears the calf (processing) and later sold the matured cow (commerce). The government cannot provide such a luxury to the herder. The government can only provide for the last part I.e commerce. You should have told the government to provide factories for every manufacturing firm in Nigeria.

TonyeBarcanista:

Story!

Cattle breeding falls within the Agricultural subsector, which is under the purview of the government and a LEGITIMATE business.

Purehuman:


Do you take an aspect of Agriculture as a commercial business or a production business?

No one said it is not a legitimate business but the owners of the business are the richest in the north. A matured cow sells for 400k and these people have more than a thousand. Because they parade herdsmen doesn't stop them from being rich. An igbo man is wearing cattle in Anambra state but he built a ranch. Some investors in Kwara state have the biggest ranch in Nigeria. They all bought the lands in which they are ranching. These investors have even made local farmers rich by buying grasses from them from time to time.

The funniest part is that, you keep looking at it from the herdsmen advantage but have failed to look at the losses from the farmers axis. These northerners have the largest landmass. Let them till their soil and start planting grasses. I think it will create employment and revenue to their state government.

TonyeBarcanista:

Cattle breeding, like other enterprise is not for the RICH Alhajis alone but also open to the poor, be it "aboki" or not. It is not even for the Fulanis and Hausas alone, in fact, who says that enterprising Igboman will not join in the trade if it is so profitable? The only reasons most southerners aren't involved at present is because we are naturally not marauders and nobody have the time to be walking all over the country with some dirty herds of cattle. However, a lot would change if this subsector is well organised by the STATE government (I don't agree on FG)- Just like the parks ai cited.

I don't see how this idea will be at the farmer's detriment, but on the contrary it will be to their advantage as they can go home with two eyes closed without fear that some people will bring their cattles to invade on their lands and eat their crops. It will greatly arrest the conflicts they hitherto have with herdsmen and will forster peaceful coexisting.

Furthermore, the land where the ranches are made will remain owned by the government/state and not the breeders except they decide to sell to them (which I will not advice).

TonyeBarcanista:

There are tens of transport operators in Jibowu and Ojota, I am quite aware that NONE of them bought those lands from scratch and developed it to parks.

Even in Abuja here, the lands where these major and minor transporters use in Nyaya, Jabi, Gwagwalada etc are not bought by them for scratch for the purpose but leased to them

There are major NURTW and RTEAN parks in Ojota, Jibowu, Mazamaza etc that are supervised by government and other pocket of parks that some major operators use which they either rent from the government or the original owners of the land. Even the Chisco you cited NEVER bought the land from scratch, they first collected it on rent and later bought it (after a couple of years perhaps).

Why can't state government do same for cattle breeders?


BTW except you deliberately want to be mischievous, I said LAND FOR LEASE/RENT not gifting or "dashing" land to breeders

TonyeBarcanista:

It is either you have reading problem or that of comprehension, else, you wouldn't have wrote this.

In every state there is usually parks for commercial cab operators, these parks are not operated by indigenes alone but by Nigerians of different ethnic groups but they are overseen by the state government or FG (in the case of FCT) and a source of revenue. Why didn't you tell the motorists to go buy lands and operate their parks?

In many states, government build blocks of lock-up shops and lease to traders. This system not only make it well coordinated but also attract revenue to the state. Why not go tell each traders to go buy their own lands to build their shops?

Let us try to address issues holistically


It is not a must to comment...

tesppidd:
I don't see how people could be so ignorant to assert that they don't know that in these crises which have lasted for decades, [b]hundreds of fulani herdsmen have been killed as well. There cows stolen!
[/b]
There are so many communities in the souuth where one cannot carry a sum of #30,000 in the bag and walk by.
In this very 'holy' south there are thousands of criminals ready to cut off your hand, take your money to make their daily bread.
In so many places in this our perfect crime free southern Nigeria one cannot pass by with an expensive phone. There are hundreds of people who would cut off your hand just to steal your phone and make a living.

Why then would it be so hard to agree that in some of these communities criminals kill herdsmen and make away with their cattle, some of which cost over #100,000 per head? It's hypocritical.

The killings are condemnable and the commander in chief must solve the problem.

The narrative is that if you do not scream 'woe to every herdsman' or you do not say 'only the herdsman are the killers in this conflict' then you're an aboki or an afonja whom God in heaven would definitely deal with.

The body language here seems to be that a fulani life which is lost is inconsequential, only the life of a christian southerner is valuable.

In a similar fashion, herdsmen should also acquire their grazing property. It is really that simple. I do not think any transporter simply came to a land and set up his bus stop. He paid for it, either as a day rent, annual lease or outright purchase. He did not appropriate the space with an argument of a right of business.

suwalee:
I must confess I love this article but the truth is I don't think that solution is lasting it's temporary....we are human and some way land dispute will always arise.... The best solution is for them to go up north make a colony n graze their cattle it's even gonna boost the IGR of the northern states. My point is if we see to their demands by giving out a specific place for grazing other livestock farmers (pigs, fishes, birds etc) they will also revolt for colonies too cos I feel it's now like a preferential treatment n all... MACBAN patrons should be called to order and let them address their employees...disarm every one with weapons u can't come to another man's land to cause problems,no one would take it....

TonyeBarcanista:
@naijaseeker: I am from Okrika, Rivers state not Bayelsa state.


The indigenes don't want to sell/lease/rent land to the rearers due to reasons best known to them...

State government must step in, acquire lands by paying appropriate compensation to indigenes, and then lease this land to breeders. This will be in the interest of all parties.

We must end open grazing but we have to proposed better alternative in the interest of the country.


Aside Taraba state, no state in the Northwest or Northeast has functional ranch... This is an aberration and indictment on the northern leaders.

However, we can't restrict them to the north alone except we are dividing Nigeria.

suwalee:
quick question:would u allow herdsmen have a colony in ur hometown? Don't forget our epileptic security agency and remember when the herdsmen start the children and women tend to suffer more... I don't sub to open grazing neither do I want the rubbish called cattle colony

Don't forget our epileptic security agency and remember when the herdsmen start the children and women tend to suffer more

I don't sub to open grazing neither do I want the rubbish called cattle colony

TonyeBarcanista:
@naijaseeker: I am from Okrika, Rivers state not Bayelsa state.


The indigenes don't want to sell/lease/rent land to the rearers due to reasons best known to them...

State government must step in, acquire lands by paying appropriate compensation to indigenes, and then lease this land to breeders. This will be in the interest of all parties.

We must end open grazing but we have to proposed better alternative in the interest of the country.


Aside Taraba state, no state in the Northwest or Northeast has functional ranch... This is an aberration and indictment on the northern leaders.

However, we can't restrict them to the north alone except we are dividing Nigeria.

naijaseeker:
Noted on Okrika.

the indigenes are farmers and they have their reasons for not been inclined to sell/lease/rent land to the rearers . State governments did not acquire land to sell to transporters, you see, your allusion to transporters is not really apt, they are different scenarios.

Why don't the indigenes want to sell/lease/rent land to the rearers? By saying reasons best known to them, I see a connotative blame apportioned to the indigenes. However, Nigeria is a free economy remember. The herdsmen did not really ask to buy l/lease/rent land from the beginning. Off course now, it will be difficult for them to make such request.

You maintain your argument that state governments should acquire the lands for public purposes. I ask you why? To stop the killings or increase meat production?

laudate:


If the armed gangs and criminal herdsmen who carry out cattle rustling are not disbanded or eradicated, then ranching is highly unlikely to stop cattle from being stolen. It just means that such armed gangs would then turn their attentions on the ranches, and raid them, at will. They may even extend such attacks to the surrounding community, who have nothing to do with such cattle. It has been said that the inability of the state to effectively respond to conflicts, violence, and banditry, "has allowed an expansion of the frontiers of banditry, and other forms of criminality."

wirinet:
Thanks for your expose. You have a better grasp of the situation than most if not all our politicians, including the OP. The problem is highly complex and multidimensional, and it is obviously beyond the mental capacity of our politicians.

One of the major problem causing this Fulani herdsmen problem is our borderless borders, especially the northern borders. Presently, Nigeria seems to be the final destination for Fulani herdsmen from all west African countries and beyond. And if something is not done to arrest the situation, Nigeria might end up being Fulani country.

It would be difficult for government to assist these herdsmen because we simply do not know how many there are and how many are actually Nigerians. If the government decides to help Fulani cattle herders, more will simply come in from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Chad Mauritania, etc. Nigeria can't cater for all Fulanis on the planet.
We need to effectively police our borders to restrict foreigners from causing us problems and destabilise the country.

Another problem we have is that the governments accommodation and reward of violence, criminals and criminality. The Nigerian government has a policy of rewarding violence and criminals instead of dealing with it and bringing criminals to justice.
Niger Delta militants kill foreigners, kill people and random, blow pipelines and engage in bunkering (illegal), the government rewards their leaders with billions and reward tens of thousands of foot soldiers with N65,000 per month.
Boko Haram takes up arms and kills tens of thousands, displaces millions, burns thousands of villages and kidnaps and rapes thousands of young ladies, what does government do? Bribe their leaders with millions of dollars and offer them amnesty. Too bad they rejected amnesty.

Currently, cultists (another euphemism for ritualists, armed robbers, kidnappers,) have taken over Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, and some other states, the government responded by hosting them to lavish receptions and giving them amnesty.

So the Fulani youths also need to cause carnage to attract governments attention and obtain their own concessions or amnesty.

Pity my igbo in laws decided to take the peaceful path. That was why the government dealt mercilessly with their own agitations and conceded nothing.

I put all Nigeria's problems to lack of governance on all levels.

Rustling of cattle is done by criminal gangs or thieves, who sell-off the stolen cows. The purpose of this form of rustling is purely criminal; it is to steal the cows and sell them off for monetary gains. For this form of rustling to exist, there must be ready markets which are built around powerful cartels with wide networks and support from state institutions, particularly security agencies. Cattle rustling is carried out by armed bandits, mostly residing in remote rural areas and forests, with active collaborators in urban markets.

Some of the foot soldiers carrying out cattle rustling were youths of pastoralist extraction who are controlled by sophisticated and well connected cattle rustling merchants, who organise the rustling, transportation and marketing of the stolen cattle. Among those who serve as herd boys to wealthier families, some often abandon grazing livestock and join armed gangs.

Growing insecurity and the consequent proliferation of arms has aided rural bandits and cattle rustlers, who utilise proceeds from cattle rustling, to purchase sophisticated weapons.

Some communities however acknowledged that the bandits, who come in large numbers, between 15 and 40 each time, (in the respondents' estimation) spoke either Hausa or Fulfulde fluently. According to a respondent, this could imply that it is the bad eggs amongst the Fulani that are colluding with strangers equipped with sophisticated arms and vehicles, to steal cattle.

The experiences of Armed Banditry in Kaduna cut across the four LGAs visited in Kaduna state. The attacks are well organised, brazen and highly effective, with the use of intimidating weapons. Respondents said that raiders come during the daytime, evening or at night.
http://www.nsrp-nigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rural-Banditry-Report.pdf

TonyeBarcanista:

It is either you have reading problem or that of comprehension, else, you wouldn't have wrote this.

In every state there is usually parks for commercial cab operators, these parks are not operated by indigenes alone but by Nigerians of different ethnic groups but they are overseen by the state government or FG (in the case of FCT) and a source of revenue. Why didn't you tell the motorists to go buy lands and operate their parks?

In many states, government build blocks of lock-up shops and lease to traders. This system not only make it well coordinated but also attract revenue to the state. Why not go tell each traders to go buy their own lands to build their shops?

Let us try to address issues holistically
..

TonyeBarcanista:


Funny...

Well, I used Igbo because of the context of my position. Again, how does that sound insulting to the Igbo nation? Do you have any major comprehension deformity?