Dozens Killed In Nigeria’s Plateau

A reported number of 86 farmers were killed in the Middle Belt of Nigeria on June 25th, 2018. Throughout agricultural areas in Nigeria, the predominantly Christian farmers, the Berom, and the predominantly Muslim herders, the Fulani, have been clashing in parallel with rising tensions between the two. Monday’s attack is suspected to have been carried out by the Fulani in retaliation for Berom criminals stealing and killing roughly 300 cows from their ranches. According to Danladi Ciroma, the Chairman of the North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the attacks were conducted by several criminal members of the community. Although he condemns the killings, Ciroma stated that the slaughter will not stop until security forces stop the destruction of Fulani cows. President Muhammadu Buhari also censured the assaults, as well as countries around the world, including the United States.

While the death toll has been reported at 86, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) claims it is higher than believed by authorities and estimates it may have been around 120. Undie Adie, the state police commissioner, said he could not yet confirm the findings of CAN: “I still have a team that is investigating in the field and I don’t know if they have returned from there…By tomorrow I will ask them.” According to President Buhari, some of the suspected Fulani killers were trained by Libya’s security services under the country’s former ruler Muammar Gaddafi. In April, Nigeria’s Channels television station said, “These gunmen were trained and armed by Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram.” The attacks threaten to completely stall agricultural production in parts of Nigeria. Increased tensions have worried community and government leaders throughout the nation, having them fear that the ethnic tension will grow into a crisis. The General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, said in a statement, “It is now very clear that under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, the herdsmen are pushing the country to the precipice and are desirous to start a war that will lead to the disintegration of Nigeria—a war between Christians and Muslims.”

As the fastest growing and potentially most influential African nation, Nigeria needs to focus on domestic security and quelling ethnic rivalries in order to both set an example for sub-Saharan countries and to protect the lives and livelihood of their own citizens. President Buhari has not taken a strong stance against brutality in the past and following this week’s slaughter he seems to not plan to take any serious action aside from visiting the affected villages. The international community must also play its part through assisting Nigeria with security measures, advising against things such as the current dusk to dawn curfew that was just established by local leaders. The 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will not stop the violence, as the assailants are armed criminals hidden in communities on both sides of the citizenry.

Savagery between the Berom and Fulani has been afflicting Nigeria’s Middle Belt since 2013 and dozens of attacks initiated by members of both groups have supposedly occurred since then. The internal tension has begun to destabilize the nation, which already has had difficulties from the Boko Haram insurgency. This terrorist group has killed thousands of people and has displaced millions of Nigerians internally after nearly a decade of activity. With the 2019 presidential election approaching, the voters will most likely push on the topic of quelling violence throughout the country.

Nigerians continue to live in fear every day, receiving threats to their homes and lives from multiple armed individuals. Without a strong effort to end ethnic violence, it is possible that the prosperous nation may become the continent’s next Sudan.

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