Why the Federal Government Can't Stop the Fulani Herdsmen Crisis: Political Will or Societal Norm?

The Fulani herdsmen crisis remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing security issues. Across states like Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Kaduna, communities have suffered devastating attacks, often resulting in mass killings, destruction of property, and displacement of thousands. Despite widespread outcry, successive federal governments have struggled — or in some cases, refused — to decisively address the problem. This inaction raises a troubling question: Is the government’s failure to act politically motivated, or is it a reflection of deep-rooted societal norms?

Understanding the Crisis

The Fulani, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, are traditionally nomadic herders who move across West Africa in search of grazing land. In Nigeria, their movements have increasingly brought them into violent conflict with sedentary farmers, especially in the Middle Belt region. What began as resource-based disputes has evolved into what many now describe as ethno-religious and political violence.

Attacks linked to Fulani herdsmen have claimed more lives in some years than the Boko Haram insurgency. Yet, the federal government’s response has often been slow, ineffective, or disturbingly silent.

Political Motivation: Protecting Ethnic Interests?

There is a widely held belief — especially in Southern and Middle Belt Nigeria — that the federal government is deliberately looking the other way because of ethnic and religious ties. Here are some reasons this argument persists:

1. Ethnic and Religious Affinity: President Muhammadu Buhari, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023, is himself a Fulani Muslim from Katsina State. Many believe this ethnic connection made his government hesitant to confront the herdsmen crisis head-on.

2. Selective Enforcement of Justice: While militant groups in the Niger Delta or separatist agitators in the South East have been quickly branded as terrorists and crushed with military force, Fulani militia groups responsible for mass killings are rarely prosecuted. Arrests, when they occur, often lead nowhere.

3. Ruga and Grazing Routes Controversy: Federal policies such as RUGA (Rural Grazing Area) settlements and the revival of old grazing routes were seen by many as veiled attempts to reward aggressors with land. This only fueled suspicion of a pro-Fulani agenda.

4. Vote Bank Politics: Northern Nigeria, home to the Fulani and their allies, is a political stronghold for many ruling parties. Confronting the herdsmen issue may risk alienating key voting blocs.

Societal Norms and Cultural Complexity

On the flip side, the problem is also deeply embedded in societal and historical norms that are difficult to reverse overnight:

1. Nomadic Lifestyle: The Fulani’s pastoralist culture has been in existence for centuries. Modern policies to restrict movement or force settlements are seen as threats to their identity, leading to resistance even when offered peacefully.

2. Weak Land Policies: Nigeria lacks an effective and enforceable land-use policy that can define clear rights between farmers and herders. This legal vacuum allows conflicts to fester without meaningful resolution.

3. Poor Governance and Law Enforcement: Rural Nigeria is largely under-policed, and justice is hard to access. In such an environment, people take laws into their own hands, and retaliatory cycles of violence become the norm.

4. Ethnic Bias at All Levels: Ethnic identity influences appointments and operations within the police, army, and judiciary. A herder involved in violence might escape prosecution simply because a fellow tribesman sits in a key position.

The Consequences of Inaction

The inability — or unwillingness — of the federal government to stop Fulani herdsmen violence has had severe consequences:

Erosion of Trust: Many citizens, especially in the Middle Belt and South, feel abandoned by their own government.

Rise of Vigilantism: With state protection absent, communities are forming self-defense militias, leading to further breakdown of law and order.

Food Insecurity: Farming activities have plummeted in many conflict zones, worsening Nigeria’s already fragile food security.

National Disunity: The perception of ethnic favoritism is deepening Nigeria’s fault lines, threatening national cohesion.

What Needs to Change?

1. Declare Fulani Militia as Terrorists: Just like Boko Haram or IPOB, violent Fulani groups must be officially designated as terrorists to allow a more coordinated military response.

2. Review of Land Laws: A nationwide review of land ownership and grazing laws must be conducted to establish peaceful coexistence.

3. De-politicize Security: Ethnic and religious considerations must be removed from security decisions. Competence and neutrality should be the only criteria.

4. Community Dialogue and Modern Ranching: Encourage the transition from nomadic herding to modern ranching systems with adequate government support and sensitization.

Final Thoughts

The inability of the federal government to stop Fulani herdsmen violence is both a product of political convenience and entrenched societal norms. However, excuses can no longer suffice. Every Nigerian life matters, and the continued bloodshed, if not addressed with urgency and sincerity, may one day consume the nation as a whole.

Peace cannot exist where justice is selective. And a nation that fails to protect all its citizens equally is treading a dangerous path.