HERDSMEN EXCESSES: Aba Reprisal Attack May Replicate Across Other Localities

HORRIBLE pictures below showing raised down shanties at the abattoir and some protesters along St. Michael's Road, Aba, Abia State following federal government's nonchalance attitudes to curtail the atrocious conducts of the Fulani herdsmen.

Indeed, the clash in Aba between Igbos and Hausas is a sad reflection of the increasing  ethnic suspicion, intolerance, tension and crisis in Nigeria currently.

Seemingly, the Federal Government conveniently chose to be less than decisive in handling the menacing attacks by Fulani herdsmen against other Nigerians. Many weeks after the Agatu destruction and mass murder, there are no known arrests, detention or prosecution of the Fulani aggressors.

This created an enabling environment for the Nimbo version which elicited a deserved national outrage. Even at that, the Federal government opted not to react immediately. Even with advance intelligence report of the attack, till date, there is no known arrests or detention of anyone. Without arrests, how do we unmask those who supply the herdsmen the sophisticated weapons they carry or if indeed some of them are non Nigerians?

This seeming official cover for the perpetrators of evil is rather ominous. Unlike the previous administration, one obvious thing not associated with President Mohammadu Buhari is fear or weakness. He has proven this so far in his handling of corrupt people, oil thieves, Boko Haram, etc. So, why is the President treating this matter with kid gloves?

Importantly, encroaching on the farms of others in the name of cattle grazing is criminal trespass, destroying their crops in the process is malicious damage, herdsmen who openly carry Ak47 guns are committing the offense of illegal possession of firearms, deliberately setting peoples homes and farmlands on fire is arson and of course, killing illegally is murder and carries death penalty.

 All the ingredients for proving these offenses are overwhelmingly present in Agatu and Nimbo! Yet, no arrests and the government appears not bothered!!

This inexplicable nonchalance leaves the victims across Nigeria with no choice but to apply self help to protect themselves and their properties. This situation breeds suspicion and ethnic tension. 

What happened in Aba  is likely to be replicated in many other towns and villages in Nigeria if the government  refuses to do the needful. Indeed, we should expect more crisis if the Federal Government continues with the strange attempt to compensate the aggressors with free land in the inglorious name of grazing reserves. There are still opportunities for the administration to turn a new leaf in this regard and demonstrate a sense of equity and justice in the handling of this delicate matter. No ethnic nationality should take any part of Nigeria or another group for granted.