By Dele Sobowale

“All animals are equal; but, some animals are more equal than others”. George Orwell, 1903-1950 in ANIMAL FARM.

“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.”—Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962, wife of late American President.

From Agatu to Akure to Aba the story is the same. For that matter from Abia to Zamfara states and the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal government and its security agencies have apparently created two classes of Nigerians – herdsmen and the rest of us. Notice, please that I did not add Fulani because they are not all Fulani or even all Nigerians. The reason is simple, I was once a cattle owner and several of the nomads engaged by the later supervisor, Yinusa Idi, who lived in a settlement near Gezawa in Kano State, were Fulani or Nigeriens.

From what seemed like time immemorial, the herdsmen and women, it needs to be added, had been given a special licence to trespass on the lands and farms of other Nigerians with impunity. Although it is difficult to determine the date when it occurred, they now seem to have also acquired the licence to kill with impunity. During President Shehu Shagari’s administration, Nigeria’s Mobile Police became known as “Kill and Go”. Today, the herdsmen have become the unofficial “Kill and Go”. The evidence is not difficult to find and indeed it was the official response to two incidents in Agatu, Benue State and Abia State which eventually triggered my anger against the Nigerian government and the security agencies. The two episodes represented the face of the Nigerian government as seen by the rest of us who are not part of the nomad community.

Before proceeding let me ask a few questions of the Nigeria Police, the DSS, and the Army. Is it possible for me, a responsible citizen, never convicted of any crime, or even charged to court for any crime, to carry an AK-47 strapped to my back and openly walk through Lagos for three hours without being stopped and arrested? Is it possible that I could, still with the weapon, stroll into the compound of a man in Ningi, Kano State, sit under a tree and not get arrested? Twelve years ago, in Oyo State, before getting the property fenced, herdsmen, with weapons, who had invaded the area for more than three days, ended on my property and decided to camp for the night. Nothing would move them. I leave that incident for now, because of what followed that insult and assault on the community.  Now, let us turn to the Agatu and Abia cases which have made anger to boil over.

As the whole world is aware, herdsmen invaded Agatuland, not once but at least three times. Unknown numbers of people were slaughtered, houses were razed and other properties destroyed – leaving thousands of Nigerians homeless and destitute (the living dead) or dead (perhaps the lucky ones). Based on the response from Aso Rock, the Police, the Army and the DSS, the death of so many cockroaches might have received more sympathy. The Police rubbed salt upon an open sore when they tried to play down genocide which left a United Nations official, not a Nigerian, in tears after visiting the area. So, we know how government officials feel about the Agatu people and their assailants. The Agatu cannot expect any security from the government. They are strictly on their own. The killers also received a signal, loud and clear, from government. They can do it again and get away with it.

The story moves to Abia State where incredible news reports informed us that the DSS was investigating the alleged murder of five (5) (that is right; 5 not 500-plus as in Agatu) herdsmen among several others buried in a mass grave in a bush somewhere. Since the DSS had again demonstrated that the majority of the victims of the mass murder don’t count, and only the “untouchable” five matter, let us then make some observations and raise a few questions.

I know from personal experience that herdsmen usually don’t file any itinerary, i.e travel plan, with anyone. So, how on earth did the DSS know that five of them were in that vicinity? If they were among a larger group, and the rest escaped to report, who showed them the way to the Police or DSS office? During their initial investigation, did the DSS attempt to find out from the communities around, the atrocities the nomads had committed? There is another report that DNA test will be used to determine which of the corpses are those of the invaders (because that is what they are) of the Abia communities. What if the DNA test proves that none of them is a herdsman, are we to assume that the investigations will end, that the other Nigerians don’t count? If so that tells the rest of us a lot about the DSS.

Let us now face some facts which have prompted the question asked at the top. It is possible that the Nigerian armed forces have less than 500,000 under arms. It is perhaps the largest in Africa. The group of nomads operating nationwide is about the same number and the communities over which they roam nationwide are almost 700,000. Even if a soldier is stationed in every community, a bloody waste, the armed forces can still not protect all of us. Each time a government official utters the statement “people should go about their legitimate business government will provide security”, I know a liar is talking. Routinely, armed herdsmen invade communities with no policeman or soldier within twenty kilometers of the village or farm. We must now ask the President of Nigeria what his advice for us is on this matter.  Should we queue up one by one to be slaughtered when they come to our communities or should we fight back? As for me, like Eleanor Roosevelt said, I don’t accept second class citizenship. After building my wall, my community made it clear to the invaders that we will not lay down and die. There the matter stands.

STOP TELLING US YOU SHARE OUR PAINS; YOU DON’T.

“I share your pains”. President Buhari to Chibok parents.

“I share your pains.” Governor Ambode to Lagos motorists broiling on queue waiting for fuel.

President Jonathan, after driving the pump price of fuel up to N141 per litre on January 1, 2012, pronounced two weeks later “I share your pains” to citizens suddenly made poorer. I wrote on these pages NO, MR PRESIDENT, YOU DON’T SHARE OUR PAINS.

I not only voted for Buhari and Ambode in the last elections, I championed the cause of a Christian Governor in Lagos State at a time when the owner of ACN had no such plan. I have been with Buhari since 2011. Until better candidates come along, I stand by them.  But, they should stop telling us they share pains which they don’t. As the father of six daughters, my skin still crawls trying to imagine how I would feel if one of the Chibok girls is my own. Even then, it would be dishonest to say I feel the pains of the parents.

As for Ambode, only someone who has received an uppercut in the jaw followed by foul expletives aimed at his parents at a filling station can share the pains – not one who doesn’t know how the fuel got in the cars in the convoy. Please tell us something else; but not this fib again.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/mr-president-wait-killed-fight/

after all the bigotry against his excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebiebere Jonathan,
this foolish bigot Sobowale has come to pour invectives on our dear president Muritala Buhari!
He is greedy and can never be satisfied

^^Honest opinion will always sound like bigotry to your likes even when it has been proven. Didn't Fulani herdsmen kill whole villages, settlements, and communities in plateau, Benue and Nasarawa during GEJ's tenure as President? The fact that Nigerians didn't try to cry out to the IB at the helm of affairs then like they are doing now speaks volume about their perception about their leader.
With the unparalleled successes recorded by Buhari's admin against BH (a feat GEJ could only achieve its reverse), Nigerians suddenly have hope and can even attempt to cry out. It is a subconcious instinct playing out when you hear people complain to Buhari. I call the subconcious trust, even wailers have it in them.
Why did your likes press very hard for construction 2nd Niger Bridge during GEJ's time? Because you had hope of him responding. Same logic applies to Fulani herdsmen menace.

The sad truth is the President silence is pregnant with meaning which can be midwifed by any objective Nigerian. There seems to be a hierarchical order of value placed on human lives by the current administration. A tacit support, exemplified by the President silence, is what has emboldened the herdsmen to perpetrate more heinous crime in the Southern and North Central parts of the country. It will take more than newspaper articles, or social media protest to get a man with innate prejudice to act against his kinsmen. When next the opportunity presents itself, Nigerians should be more conscientious in choosing their leaders.

tit:
after all the bigotry against his excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebiebere Jonathan,
this foolish bigot Sobowale has come to pour invectives on our dear president Muritala Buhari!
He is greedy and can never be satisfied

are you having a hangover, stop typing when high.

Standing5:
^^Honest opinion will always sound like bigotry to your likes even when it has been proven. Didn't Fulani herdsmen kill whole villages, settlements, and communities in plateau, Benue and Nasarawa during GEJ's tenure as President? The fact that Nigerians didn't try to cry out to the IB at the helm of affairs then like they are doing now speaks volume about their perception about their leader.
With the unparalleled successes recorded by Buhari's admin against BH (a feat GEJ could only achieve its reverse), Nigerians suddenly have hope and can even attempt to cry out. It is a subconcious instinct playing out when you hear people complain to Buhari. I call the subconcious trust, even wailers have it in them.
Why did your likes press very hard for construction 2nd Niger Bridge during GEJ's time? Because you had hope of him responding. Same logic applies to Fulani herdsmen menace.

I value and share your optimism about the current government but don't wait to get burnt before at least the truth is acknowledged!!

Boko Haram laid waste to 113 batallion at Kareto and held the entire Army, Airforce and navy in a standoff that lasted 10hrs; is that a group that you can honestly say has been defeated by the federal government!!??

2 days later, Ag. GOC Division 7 was attacked by Boko Haram, his aide killed and he barely escaped with his life - if you understand military Hierarchy, then you know that a GOC is not a small child - while on a tour of his units/battallions.

These two events let me know that Boko haram have both increased military capacity and intelliegence - 2 things they didn't have during Jonathan's final months in office, which made it possible for elections to be held in all local governments in the North in 2015 - so how can they acquire this now and still be defeated at the same time!!??

Everybody hails kareto as a success - which is true if you look at it dispassionately because Nigeria won the battle - but given the fact that Buhari himself said that Boko Haram's capability to launch coordinated attacks on Military installations and cities have been decimated and that Boko haram have been reduced to bomb attacks, then Kareto is a setback and a failure.

The government needs to placed under pressure to act fast before they become complacent most especially when everybody is hailing them for a non-existent unparalleled success!!

Don't wait, till you or a loved one is receiving Food and stipends in an IDP camp before you say the plain truth, inspite of your optimism!!

And yes!! Fulani herdsmen and Hausa folks have always been known to attack each other and communities particularly in the middle belt and the North during President Jonathan's administration; but attacking communities in the south wholesale is trend for Buhari government!!

Fulanis and farmers having issues in the farms during grazing is usual but what is unusual is fulani's attacking communities in the south in states like Oyo, Rivers, Edo.

Fulanis have also attacked travellers on Federal Highways, at least I remember Brig General Slyvester Iruh was killed by fulani herdsmen who tried to rob him when he had a flat tire on Lagos--Ibadan expressway during Yar-adua's tenure but attacking villages in the south is new!!

When they attack inthe North, the security operatives dismiss them as simple disputes over land turn wild; what will they say in the case of rivers or oyo, abi fulani wan claim land for south again!!??

tit:
after all the bigotry against his excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebiebere Jonathan,
this foolish bigot Sobowale has come to pour invectives on our dear president Muritala Buhari!
He is greedy and can never be satisfied

statements like this drive me insane. What has he said that isn't true?

Illegal Wailer

Good morning Nigerians... Have you blamed GEJ today?

Let's all commit the affairs of this nation to the hands of God.

tit:
after all the bigotry against his excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebiebere Jonathan,
this foolish bigot Sobowale has come to pour invectives on our dear president Muritala Buhari!
He is greedy and can never be satisfied

Did you take your time to read the article without bias?

Standing5:
^^Honest opinion will always sound like bigotry to your likes even when it has been proven. Didn't Fulani herdsmen kill whole villages, settlements, and communities in plateau, Benue and Nasarawa during GEJ's tenure as President? The fact that Nigerians didn't try to cry out to the IB at the helm of affairs then like they are doing now speaks volume about their perception about their leader.
With the unparalleled successes recorded by Buhari's admin against BH (a feat GEJ could only achieve its reverse), Nigerians suddenly have hope and can even attempt to cry out. It is a subconcious instinct playing out when you hear people complain to Buhari. I call the subconcious trust, even wailers have it in them.
Why did your likes press very hard for construction 2nd Niger Bridge during GEJ's time? Because you had hope of him responding. Same logic applies to Fulani herdsmen menace.

I don't think it is right to use the family of GEJ as a standard here. What should be in our minds right now is shouldn't the government do something to stop it? Consider that should this killings be done to your village members, would you remember GEJ? No! You will only remember Buhari.

welcom to nigeria where there is no law.

tit:
after all the bigotry against his excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebiebere Jonathan,
this foolish bigot Sobowale has come to pour invectives on our dear president Muritala Buhari!
He is greedy and can never be satisfied

but he is trying to make a point. Isn't he? That's the problem with zombies they don't see anything bad abt the president that dey call those who try to voice their opinion Wailers.

It's more honourably to die fighting than to be slaughtered like a Sala ram.

no comment

These dogs and baboons (Apologies to the Daura President) voted in a Fulani man so he can protect them against armed fulani herdsmen? Chei, common sense is not common at all.

As for me, like Eleanor Roosevelt said, I don’t accept second class citizenship. After building my wall, my community made it clear to the invaders that we will not lay down and die. There the matter stands.

Gbam

Oga dele of vanguard... WAILLERS FORM don finish.

It's quite unfortunate we found ourselves in this mess.

This Shenji is a WORLD CLASS Shenji.

This whole fulani herdsmen rubbish has to stop. It's time every region should start forming militia groups or vigilante groups to protect themselves against these fulani marauders. Is the life of a cattle more precious than that of a human being? IPOB or even Niger Delta militants will not be responsible for the disintegration of this country but rather fulani herdsmen. Call me a prophet of doom or give me a ban but I've said the truth.

I forsee military invasion from the west. Nigeria will be so divided along tribal lines. if buhari proves Stubborn, they definitely sanction us. Britain would move for the annulment of the marriage. shaking my head.