Cattle rearers or terrorists? How Fulani herdsmen are killing other tribes in Nigeria

Emeka Ibemere

When a despicable and abominable act took place recently in Delta State, the people of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the State never believed that such things could take place in their area, but it happened.

Their monarch, HRM Akaeze Edward Ofulue III, was abducted on January 5, 2016, at about 4.00 pm, and for 19 days, the highly reverend traditional ruler was missing. When he was eventually seen, it was his dead decomposing body that was discovered. Who did it? Fingers point to the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

If Ofulue 111 was very unfortunate, Chief Olu Falea, the former Secretary to the Federal Government, SFG, was. He was abducted by the alleged herdsmen, who later demanded ransom, before setting him free.

Before now, the same suspected Fulani herdsmen- gang had kidnapped two Catholic priests and after ransom as usual, they were sent free. Fulani herdsmen have become an emerging security threats in Nigeria.

 Herdsmen and Boko Haram in Nigeria have killed many lives and destroyed property. The  influence  of  foreign  Fulani  groups  in  search  of  pasture in Nigeria  accounts  for  the  irreconcilable  conflicts  being witnessed between the  Fulani and their host communities.

Some reports said Boko Haram insurgency can be linked to the Fulani herdsmen threats. According to recent reports, there are Boko Haram elements in the various skirmishes involving Fulani herdsmen and their hosts in  Jos,  Plateau  State  and  other  parts  of the  North  central  Nigeria.

But the consistent denial by the umbrella Fulani Breeders  Association  that  the  members  of  the  group  are  not  responsible  for  the  wanton  killings  and  destruction  going  on  in  various  areas  of  conflicts  is  a  further  evidence  to  suggest  that  trans-human  Fulani  from  neighbouring  countries, their  connection  and  exposure  to  terrorists’  ideas  and  organisations  are  interested  in  opening  new  front  of  operation.

Our investigation revealed that the  proliferation  of  small  arms  and  light  weapons  showed that Fulani  herdsmen  have  been  involved  in  transporting  small  arms  to  Nigeria  through  their  alleged organised routes.

The  Newswatch Times gathered from the Nigerian military magazine, quoting military sources and claiming that  most of  the  small  arms  came  to  the  Boko Haram insurgents  and  other  dangerous  groups  and  individuals  through  Libyan  and  Malian rebels  on  the  backs  of  camels  and  donkeys  desperate  to  exchange  arms  for  money. This  has  been  made  possible  to  a  great  extent  by  a  porous  borders,  corruption  of  immigration  officers, and inadequate security on boarders.  Report has confirmed that the Fulani herdsmen through their transactions which  take place  largely  outside  the  banking  system  is  a  potential  source  of  money  laundering  and  terrorism financing  for  Boko Haram.

 It was reported that Boko Haram infiltrated the rank and file of the herdsmen during their recruitment period to help them in their unholy wars. There is no big difference in the killing pattern of the Fulani herdsmen and that of Boko Haram and even in their operations. Both alleged to setting of  homes  ablaze  and  shooting  of  escaping  villagers,  the  use  of  AK  47  weapons  and  other  assorted  weapons.  Last year, revelations by some ‘captured’ members of  Boko Haram members  operating  as  Fulani  herdsmen  in  the  North  Central  states  of  Nasarawa,  Plateau,  Southern  Kaduna,  Benue,  Taraba,  and  Kogi States.

“I don’t know if there is any link between them and Boko Haram and I also agree with you that they have killed more than Boko Haram. You will also know that Fulani people have also been killed. You know that Fulani depends on cattle for their subsistence living, they have no other business other than cattle rearing and it’s also reported that people have been stealing their cattle, cows and killing them,” Abubakar Tsav, former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State told our correspondent, in an interview.

“And Fulani man is a person that once you offend him, he will never forget and forgive you no matter how long it takes, he must take his revenge, so people should respect their rights. My own solution to this crisis is that if government cannot establish ranches immediately, they should set up a body; and if the Fulani herdsmen’s cattle stray into somebody’s farm, and destroyed his farm crop; the Fulani herdsman who is responsible should be charged and made to pay for the cost of the damaged crops but if a cow destroyed your farm instead of you coming to seek compensation for the damage, you go on to kill the Fulani herds man’s cattle or even kill the herdsman himself, should not happened. I said before that Fulani man doesn’t forgive in a hurry and this is what has been fuelling this conflict.”

The  statement credited to the former President  Goodluck  Jonathan  that  security  report  confirms  that  Boko Haram insurgents  now  exploited  the  conflicts  between  Fulani  herdsmen  and  farmers  in  the  North  Central  States  to  open  another  front  for the  insurgency  against  Nigerian  State was not heeded.  Also, another comments by former head of  State,  General  Gown  that;  “these  children  (Nigerian  Fulani  herdsmen)  carry  sticks  and  lead  their  cattle and cows  on  pasture  across  the  country,  but  now  some  people  put  on  Fulani  clothes  and  perpetuate  crisis”, were also never investigated by Nigeria security forces.

However, our security findings, further  revealed  that  those  carrying  out  attacks  on  farmers in Nigeria  are  immigrant  Fulani  herdsmen  mostly  from  Mali,  and Chad  etc,  and  this  fact  is  corroborated  by  the  former Lagos State police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav in his interview with our correspondent.

Tsav said majority of these herdsmen are foreigners who have no respect for the law. “And for your information, these herdsmen are not from Nigeria alone. Some of them come from other neighbouring African countries to graze their cattle here in Nigeria. Majority of them are not Nigerians. From the story we have heard, they come from other countries and you have different categories of Fulani. There are some who are very kind, there are some who don’t forgive, there are some who come to deliberately destroy your farm crops, and wait for any reaction from anybody. So, we have some that are very hostile and dangerous who can kill and destroy lives”, he stated.

Recent record showed that the areas that have come under repeated attacks are mostly towns, villages and communities that have predominantly Christian populations. In the North east, these include Adamawa, Borno States while in the North central  areas mostly  affected  by  operations  of  the so-called gunmen  include  the following;  Jos, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Kwara States, thereby confirming the suspicion  that  the  two groups  have  a  common  hidden agenda.

But the ex-police cop, Tsav said it’s not true. “It’s not easy for Fulani herdsmen to take any body’s farm land. People are making allegations that Fulani herdsmen wants to annex their lands and in all these crises that have been happening, we have never seen where they collected people’s land”, he added.

“ Let me say this, they accused the Fulani herdsmen of claiming the lands for Islam, but all the places that the Fulani herdsmen fought with the farmers, they have not build any mosque on such lands, or building a settlements, depicting Islam. What interests a Fulani herdsman is where he can get green grass to feed its cattle and cows, which is what concerns them.” Our investigation also showed that the Fulani herdsmen conflict and security threats are in 30 out of 36 states of the federation

Ikechukwu Aduba, former Delta state police commissioner, has insisted there is something more dangerous than the dreaded Boko Haram sect in Nigeria. The retired police officer raised alarm over the illegal activities of Fulani cattle reaerers and urged the man in charge of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari to address the situation before it is too late. Ex-CP Aduba explained why these men are worse than Boko Haram:

“It is a serious issue, more complicated than the terrorists’ activities in the Northeast. Boko Haram war is a minor issue when compared with what we are going to experience in the hands of Fulani cattle reaerers in the nearest future if the issue is not addressed.

“In some places, especially in Delta state where I served as the commissioner of police, many people cannot go to the farm anymore for fear of being attacked in the bush by cattle reaerers. Many women have been raped in front of their husbands and children. Many people killed by the cattle reaerers. It is a pathetic situation if cattle eat up people’s crops in the farm and the farm owner challenges them, it is a big problem. If the farm owner keeps quite, his toil for the year will be in vain. It is a wearisome situation”, he added.

“The action is affecting agricultural businesses as communities are afraid to go to the farm for the fear that one day, all their labour for one year will be eaten up in one day by cattle. If a community is afraid that their loved may go to the farm and not return, how do you expect them to go to the farm where they may meet their untimely death? This is a serious and pathetic situation that is worse than Boko Haram. They will soon overrun the entire country.

 “I want to advice, that President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly should constitute a committee that would look into the issue. My suggestion is that the cattle reaerers should be confined in gracing reserves and ranches. They should be made to stay in a particular area and not to wander from place to place.

“If you look at it critically, we don’t eat beef more than other countries of the world. We don’t have cow more than other countries. We don’t export cow, yet in the countries that even export cow, there is absolute peace because they don’t take their cattle to places that they are not supposed to take them. The Nigerian government should take a decisive stands on the matter or the keg of gun powder will explode and the government will now not be able to tackle the menace of the cattle reaerers,” Aduba said.

According to Tsav, “Security agencies should be conscious of their responsibility. People should also be conscious of their duties, people should show more love to this country than they show to themselves. Again, people should have the fear of God and always try to speak the truth and seek what is right for this country”,

“I’m expecting the National Assemble to have come up with a law that will restrict the movement of the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle in some quarters and areas in this country. They should come up with law but they cannot do that; I don’t know because some of them or may be majority of them know top Nigerians who have these cows or some of them owned the cows, may be but if these people wants to serve this country very well, everybody should set aside his personal interest and do things for the interest of this nation and their people, that is why they were voted into the NASS.”

 

 

Ex- Kaduna Local Govt Pension Board Cashier Bags One Year Jail Term for N8.6m Fraud

EFCC Press Release

 

Justice M.T.M. Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna, on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, convicted and sentenced one  Bitrus A. Mallam, a former cashier with the Kaduna State Local Government Pension Board , to 12 months imprisonment on  a one-count charge bordering on theft to the tune of N8,658,359(  Eight Million Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira) brought against him by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

 

 

The charge reads:  ‘‘That you Birtrus A. Mallam, being the former cashier in the Kaduna State Local Government  Pension Board, sometime in 2000 in Kaduna, in the Kaduna Judicial  Division of the High Court did commit theft by dishonestly  taking the sum of  N8,658,359 (Eight Million Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira) the property of Kaduna State Local Government Pension Board without her consent and thereby committed and offence contrary to  Section  286 and  punishable under Section 289 of the Penal Code Laws of Kaduna State.’’

 

 However, the convict, who is currently the Head of Idon in Adara Chiefdom, Kaduna State, pleaded not guilty to the charge, thus leading to his full trial.

 

 

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Jijah H. Bwala, presented five witnesses and tendered 22 documents to prove his case.  

 

While delivering his ruling today, Justice Aliyu stated that “The confessional statements made by the accused were made voluntarily and were submitted to the court. These confessions were corroborated in evidence by PW1, PW2, PW3, PW4 and PW5. The defence only denied that these statements were made voluntarily, but failed to provide any evidence to that effect.

 

"Furthermore, when the crime was discovered, the Board issued the accused a query, which he responded to, admitting culpability, accepting full responsibility for the crime, and pleading for the mercy of the Board as well as the opportunity to make restitution of the amount stolen.

 

"Exhibits tendered in court also corroborated the different testimonies and were not discredited by the defence. Exhibits 2 and 3 prove that the accused did take monies, the property of the Kaduna State Local Government Pension Board. He did so to cause wrongful gain to himself by unlawful means. The prosecution has proved their case, and I convict you as charged."

 

 

 Justice Aliyu, thereafter, sentenced Mallam to 12 months imprisonment and fined him N100, 000(One Hundred Thousand Naira).

 

The court further ruled that his inability to pay the N100,000 fine would  attract additional 12 months in prison.  

 

Mallam, who was employed by the Board in 1993 as a clerical officer, rose to become a cashier in 1998.

 

He, however, abused his position and, in the process, made illicit money with which he acquired landed properties and vehicles.

 

EFCC Anti-corruption agency arrests Bayelsa Governor’s ex- aide for offering N10m bride to EFCC Official

A former Senior Special Assistant on Media to Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The suspect, Abnedgo Don- Evarada, was arrested on Monday in Port- Harcourt, Rivers State for offering a bribe of N10million( Ten Million Naira) to the EFCC's Zonal Head in Port- Harcourt, Mr Ishaq Salihu.

Don-Evarada ran into trouble when he approached Salihu, over a case involving the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa's state governor on Millennium Development Goals, Apere Embelakpo and his wife, Fiene Beauty.

Embelakpo is being investigated for alleged diversion of N800million( Eight Hundred Million Naira only),  being funds meant for the  Millennium Development Goals, MDG,  while his wife is being investigated for alleged money laundering, forgery and suspicious transactions to the tune of N200million( Two Hundred Million Naira only). Don- Evarada offered the bribe ostensibly to compromise the EFCC investigation but his overture was turned down and was arrested.

He is being kept in the custody of the EFCC and would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

20 oil thieves bag six years jail terms

Justice Ibrahim Buba of Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos  today convicted twenty persons for illegal dealing and storage of petroleum products. The convicts are Captain Daniel Lebile, Ala Ibanibo, Wole Ajayi, Adesunloye Fani-Kayode, Michael Mgbanwa, Segun Ekundemi, Johnson Mashebinu, Ndidi Benjamin, Bright Nwaezuoke, Blessing Omoviye and Kayode Ireti. Others Chuks Isiwepkweni, Friday Nchikpa, Peter Bayo, Ubom Amos, Zuopamo Embiowei, Olabamerun Owolemi, Adams Husseini, Ebisingha Timmy and Godwin Oputeh, MV Long Island and their companies Afa Global Impex Services Limited and GFL Marine Service Limited. One of the charges read, “that you, MV Long Island , AFA Global Impex Services Limited, GFL Marine Services Limited, Ala Atubokiki Ibanibo, Wole Ajayi, Adesunloye Alexander, Fani Kayode, Captain Daniel Lebile, Micheal Mgbanwa, Segun Ekundemi, Joghnson Mashebinu, Ndidi Benjamin, Bright Nwaezuoke, Blessing Omoviye, Kayode Biboye Ireti, Chuks Isiwepkweni, Friday Nchikpa, Peter Bayo, Ubom Amos , Zuopamo Embiowei, Olabamerun Owolemi, Adams Husseini, Ebisingha Timmy, Godwin Oputeh, Ebimie Norwigeh (Still at large) and Olabamerin Damilola Smart (now at large) on or about the 2nd day of December 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: dealing in petroleum products without lawful authority or appropriate license contrary to Section 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under the same Act”. They have pleaded not guilty. In the course of trial, the prosecution called four witnesses. In his judgment, Justice Buba held  that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt. He therefore sentenced the convicts to two years imprisonment on each of the three counts, starting from December 2, 2014, when the convicts were arrested with an option of N200, 000.00k (Two hundred thousand naira) fine for each count.  The convicts are to forfeit all the seized vessels, cargoes and properties to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the jail terms will run concurrently.

High rate of dollar: Govt policy, corruption wars are the cause of high rate of dollars----DON

Following the free fall of naira in foreign exchange and the adverse effect is causing on the economy, Don Ohakwe, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Ausque Global Investment Limited and Ausque Motors in Lagos, who runs Bureau DE change and a financial analyst, in this interview with Emeka Ibemere, explains why the rate of dollar is high as against naira.

  You are following the trend of the dollar and the economy of the country, as financial expert, what is your reaction to the recent high dollar rate exchange to Naira.

MY brother, it’s alarming and I think, as it is now, Nigeria’s currency seems to be the only currency which its rate is not near to dollar, all things being equal. I have not heard of such since I was born and since the country’s independence, this is the highest I have ever witnessed in my life for one dollar to be chasing N400. It’s not done in any country and it’s a sign of failed state.

We can no longer buy anything in the market. The price of electronics have gone up, an Air conditioner I bought N65,000 few months ago is now N150,000; a television that cost N45,000 last October is now N95,000. Common pure water is now for the rich, as everything has skyrocketed to high-heavens. We can no longer buy anything and even bread that is a staple food for Nigerians, its price has gone times two, I don’t know where we are heading to.

What do you think is the high rate of dollar to Naira?

Well, I think it should be the fall of the global oil price in international market, it contributed it and secondly, this government policy of withdrawing dollar and stopping or refusing to releasing dollars to the bureau de change operators or opening windows of autonomy are contributing to it. Before, we use to have autonomy from the bank, where you can buy as much as you can buy from market; and that time, the naira will chase the dollar to a standstill and the margin will not be too different. The official rate of dollar is N198, then we use to sell with N2 and the highest we can sale is N205, but because we cannot even see dollar again, businessmen, the importers because they cannot see dollar again result to be buying at any rate you give it to them, and they are ready to buy it because many of them their goods are on high sea, some their goods are in the ports, and they need to clear it.

In abroad their business partners are on their necks, most of them will pay in dollars before their goods could be sent to them down here. So, their foreign counterparts have refused to release their goods to them until they see their money and it’s in dollars that they used to pay for their goods, so under this pressure, they have to sort and source for dollars by every means to pay for their goods, so that the ones they have invested cannot go down the drain. This is the reasons why dollar rate is astronomically high; even I can tell you now that this is the official rate of dollar in Nigeria.  

People are pointing fingers to bureau de change operators as contributing to the down fall of naira, do you also subscribe to this argument.

Somehow, yes! In the sense that if they had agreed to make their margin stable or like N20 to N50 and kept it at that no matter anything, against the official rate like you add N20 as against N198, which means you they will sale at N200 and make profit of N20 per each dollar, it wouldn’t have reached to this level we are in now. But because the purchasing power, that is the people needing the dollar are more than the few dollars in circulation, it keeps on going high. Let’s say I can meet Mr A who is in need of dollar and I told him I can sell for N300, he will be happy to buy, because he needs it and he is source for dollar to pay his bills. Again, politicians contributed a lot, because of the present’s government determination to fight corruption, some of the politicians because they are afraid, mop up the available dollars in circulation and moved their money to overseas. All their naira in Nigeria banks was cleared to buy dollars and they moved their money abroad to avoid detection by the government, so this made the dollar to be scarce. As I speak to you, you cannot even see dollar anywhere to buy.

Government policy of trying to discourage importation of goods and encourage local production of goods also cause it because in their effort to do that, they come up with policy of not selling to the bureau de change operators. But they forgot that such policy is not what you rush like that without putting infrastructure on ground for the thriving of the local manufacturers. We don’t have steady light, we don’t have some of raw materials, our roads are in bad shape and nothing is working. I have not seen an economy that moves on without light, it’s not possible. First of all, you give us light, which are a necessity, and then other local manufacturers will spring up immediately.

Will you suggest closing of bureau de change?

   Of course, if the government can muster enough political will and courage to do so, I will support it because nothing is happening. Even without closing it, nothing is happening in that sector because government is no longer giving them money since January this year and they are just there without getting money to operate their businesses as usual. There is where you can get dollar now unless from people coming from abroad.

The cabals behind the bureau de change may make it difficult for closing the operators.

  Its better they close it because as it stands, it’s no longer contributing to the economic development of the country; it’s having an adverse effect to the economy. I learn that government is trying to refund them their N35million pay-up capital, and I think that is the end of bureau de change, already the current CBN governor is not a fan of bureau de change business, as far back as when he was in the banking sector. He doesn’t do anything with the operators of bureau de change, when other banks were taking 30K; he was taking 5k, in order to discourage bureau de change business. I suggest that government should scrap it off.

What is your take on the allegation that banks give bureau de change dollars at N198 and the operators would sale at N300 or N400, and return gains to the bankers thereby keeping the rate continuously?

 This is my first time of hearing it but from where are the banks getting the dollar they are giving out. Who is giving bank dollars, perhaps from international market, I don’t know but it could be possible. My suggestion to this government is that if they want to discourage importation, and encourage local manufacturers, they must give us a steady power supply because its when you have steady power supply that you see local small scale firms sprouting up but in a situation where you don’t have raw material, no infrastructure, no light, and other basic amenities, I don’t know what type of policy you want to adopt. The way things are going on it may reach N1000 per dollar if drastic measures are not put in place.

Youth empowerment: Why we passed Employment Trust Fund bill into law-------- Hon Idimogu

Following the youth restiveness, crime and other forms of vices because of unemployment situation in Lagos State, the Lagos State House of Assembly recently passed into law, an employment trust fund that will enable the government to fight the menace and engaged the youth of the state in wealth and job creation, so as to add value to the state. Emeka Idimogu, a member of the House spoke to Emeka Ibemere, on the issues, and other excerpts. 

There is serious unemployment in Nigeria and many of our Lagos State youths are on the streets and as one of the lawmakers in Lagos House of Assembly, how is the Assembly tackling the unemployment menace in Lagos State

Well, you should know that Lagos State is a unique state and in the beginning of this year, when budget of the state was passed or I would rather say that the present governor, his Excellency, Akunwumi Ambode made some promises to ensure that most of the youths in Lagos State would be gainfully employed in his own regime and I must tell you that he has commenced his promise. First thing this year, Employment Trust Fund bill was passed into law for the first time in Lagos State, and the idea is that it is going to be funded by both private sector and the state government, and the state government is going to contribute the sum of N25billion in four years, which every year, N6.25billion of that fund have been provided by the state.

As I speak to you that fund has been provided by the state and I must also tell you that few days ago, the chairman and the executive secretary of that ETF; who will form the major player in the board were actually confirmed by the Assembly, so, which means everything is now on course for job employment and its now left for the board and probably the governor will now send other board members because he has to constitute the board now that the Chairman and Executive Secretary have been confirmed, the other members will be confirmed I think the other necessary policy that will take place will commence immediately the entire board is completed.

What is the idea of the ETF?

  The idea of Employment Trust Fund is to ensure that unemployment is highly reduced to a minimal level in Lagos State when you considered that in Lagos State, the population is high and you are talking about say 20million to 23million and majority of this number are the youths and they are unemployed, so that is the reason to form the ETF, and we believe it will go a long way in reducing unemployment, because it is not just employment trust fund for the elite, its target is for the downtrodden in the state. In fact, the artisans, youths in particular, who can come up with ideas and who are also willing to create employment within themselves. Even some training will be giving to them before the resources will be provided to them.

 However, I think the beneficiaries must be residents of Lagos State, not indigene but residents of Lagos State. And that means they must also have the LASSARA, this residence permit that was being done and I’m advising the young men that have been living in Lagos State for not less than six months and above to make time and go and register and have their own resident’s citizen card because if you don’t have it you won’t be able to access the fund. However, we are not talking about indigenes of Lagos State or tribe in this case because we don’t want to raise any sentiment that its only indigenes that would benefit from it, so that is why in the wisdom of the governor, and the brain behind the trust fund, it is giving to the residents of Lagos State who have spent a minimum of six months and above and who have registered and also have their resident permit with their documents showing that they are residents in Lagos State not just any other person that is living in Lagos State. So, I think that is the major bold step the government of Lagos State has taken to solve the menace of unemployment in the state. And I sincerely commend the governor and his team for that.

Apart from that ETF, are there any other way of absorbing some of them in the ministries and agencies of the state.

Yes, of course as at today and since the commencement of this administration, the once I know, I’m aware that primary school teachers have been employed in the state schools management board and I think the process is still on and it was advertised, many have been interviewed and recruitment process is still on. I know that; that one has been done and very soon, some of them will be receiving their employment letters. Again, as I speak to you, LASTMA, are also employing through the Civil Service Commission of the state and if you go through their potter you will see it advertised there. LASTMA, have advertised vacancies and they are recruiting as well. People have also been applied and I know the process is still on; some have been invited for an interview. These are ways of reducing the unemployment in the state and I know that even in the fire service, under special duties are also recruiting.

Now their vacancy position is on and if you go to their website, it’s their and if you are qualified you apply but all these jobs and recruitments are done online, so this one will close by the end of this month, these are the ones that I know that are taking place. And remember, the budget was just passed in January and this is the second month and I believe strongly that before the second year of this administration in Lagos State, a lot of our youths will be employed by the government and I also believed that there are some arrangement coming from the private sector in partnership with the government that are creating job opportunities for our youths in the state, I thing we are on course and we are working.

How is the state going to monitor the funds so that it will not be abused by the youths who are going to be the beneficiaries of this fund?     

  Well, that depends on the modalities of the board that the ETF is going to adopt. The chairman for me is a first class material who has done it before, and she has worked in FIRS. She is a charted accountant with pedigree, and from her resume, she is a financial expert. Her record in finance and management is intimidating sincerely within me, I was carried away by her CV. I think she is a capable hand to manage the fund. Very sharp, articulate and intelligent woman so the idea of abuse may not be there. I believe with her and the Executive Secretary of the board, other board members will key into their vision.

The governor, the House of Assembly, have done everything to make sure that every law guiding it to function is provided but it’s the board that will come out with the details of how it will go according to their guidelines, so on the issue of abuse, they can be able to take care of that because they are the managers of the fund. They are also going to bring the private sector, individuals into it because it’s not only managing the funds but they have to grow the funds. The kind of fund management they are going to do is more of accountability and transparency, because that is the purpose because every person that will have the opportunity to draw from it, will know that there will be controls to safeguard anything like embezzlement. Of course, we know that there is no system that is faulty proof, but I also know that through their very best control, they will checkmate those that will look at it as their own ‘national cake’ or largess from the government. And I believe that any person that has enjoyed the fund will be able to pay back so that it can go round to others.

    How are we sure that access the funds is not going to be operation show your party cards.

No, no, no! That is why the only condition that I know is the through the resident’s permit card, that you must be a resident of Lagos State. What do you mean by being a party member?

A situation where the applicants can be asked to produce their parents’ party card membership

No, I know that party form identity cards and membership cards have nothing to do with this ETF opportunity; you see we have an amiable governor, whose interest is on Lagos residents, not tribe or party membership. Any person as long as you have your resident’s permit is entitled for the fund. It’s not for any tribe, party, family, clan or state. It’s for those who are living in Lagos State and are contributing their quota; taxes and adding values in Lagos State are the purpose of the fund. It’s clear and the document about the fund is there, it’s a public document, and it has no hidden agenda. The governor has spoken to the House, and my honourable Speaker, Obasa and other stakeholders have given their support on the ETF and everything is going to work out transparently.

What are your words for youths?

They should be calm, not engage in crime and criminalities, exercise patience because there are good things coming there ways from this government. But must have their LASSARA, let them go and register now and get their resident permit card because you cannot access the employment trust fund if they don’t have their resident permit. The state is not bias by asking for that; what they are saying is that if you have lived in Lagos State for a minimum of six months and above, you are entitled to it, so let them go and get it. 

 

Top government officials supply arms to Fulani herdsmen----ex-police boss

The former Commissioner of police, Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav was in Lagos during the last days of Babangida and the reign of Abacha, and despite the threats to his life during those days of holocaust, he remained steadfast in truth and professionalism, a testament the then Lagos State Military administrator, Buba Mohammed Marwa would jump into to defend him. A highly known investigator and civil right campaigner, Tsav spoke to our correspondent on phone last week, about the emerging new security threat, which is worse than Boko Haram, and averred his mind to EMEKA IBEMERE, that the conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and some communities in Nigeria is fueled by the arming of the cattle rearing Fulani herdsmen by the top government functionaries that owned the cows and the cattle.

 

Fulani herdsmen has been a thorn in the flesh of Nigerian farmers and their host communities, in fact it’s an emerging security threats like Boko Haram, what is your take on this?

You see, it’s a failure on the part of our security agencies. Ordinarily, Fulani herdsmen were going about before now with sticks for grazing of their cattle but now they go about with guns, like AK45 and other dangerous and sophisticated arms, from where they obtained their arms?

Did they acquire it from the air or from heavens or from spirits? How did they acquire them? If our law enforcement agencies were doing their work very well, they shouldn’t have allowed these herdsmen to amass arms and weapons and armed themselves, so much that they can challenge everybody.

And also we understand that these cows are owned by the top civil servants, politicians, and even top security personnel other government officers in the corridors of power. Highly placed government officials owned these cows, the herdsmen are just rearing it for them, and if that is the case, perhaps the highly placed government officials must have been the people supplying the herdsmen with arms and sophisticated guns.  They are the ones supplying them with guns, so what can the government do about this thing?

 We should apply the law that will guide the Fulani herdsmen, just like Buhari is applying the law on corruption. Nobody should be speared; anybody who is known to be supplying guns to the Fulani herdsman should be dealt with. And government should make effort to centralize these herdsmen to a particular place. We have huge acres of virgin land in this country, why government can’t establishes ranches or grazing areas for the Fulani herdsmen to stop them from encroaching on people’s farms, eating farm crops.

They should provide grazing areas for them, so that the scuffle between them and the farmers would stop. For instance, in my state, Benue State, where we have no industries, we have no factories, and our people depend on subsistence farming to live on, pay their children school fees, hospital bills, the farm to feed themselves, and so on and so forth, they have no other means of livelihood, government should therefore move these herdsmen to virgin land where they are no farms, so that whosoever wants to buy cow should go there and buy his or her cow, so that these herdsmen could be stopped from roaming the streets and causing pains to people. And when farmers want to defend their farms they killed them instead. It’s not good.

How do you blame the security agencies, how would they have known when these guns enter into their hands?

What are the duties of security men? To protect lives and property, to guide against the proliferation of arms in this country, and I know that if you want to apply for non prohibited fire arms, you apply through the police and the police will give you permit and if there are categories of arm which they cannot approve, they referred it to the appropriate authority  and you applied through the commissioner of  police, the police will give you the permit and there are certain arms which the police cannot approved, they will referred the person to the presidency and its only the presidency that can approve such arms. People have been arrested for using firearms without applying through the inspector general of police, or commissioner of police. How many Fulani herdsmen have been arrested or prosecuted for unlawful possession of fire arms? Check your record all over the country, how many of them have been arrested and charged to court or how many have been jailed since they have been killing their host communities and farm owners in this country? How many?

At the same time, people have also provoked these herdsmen, some will go and steal their cattle, some steal and kill their cattle and Fulani man will never forget anybody that harms or steal his cattle, that is why we have this conflicts, and there are some people who are so callous that they will collect money from these herdsmen promising to give them grazing lands and will not give them the lands after collecting money from them.

This also brings conflicts, so there is dishonesty in these parties, the traditional rulers, the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen and their host communities are the cause of the conflicts we are having today with the Fulani herdsmen. So, these elements are the factors involved in these crises. When we blame the Fulani herdsmen, we should also blame the people, the farmers, we should also blame the governments and security agencies.

On security agencies, what do you expect them to do in this herdsmen threat?

We use to have some security guides attached to the Forest department, we call the Forest Guide, so I would want the various states to create committees, comprising of known Fulani leaders and security agencies, and traditional rulers who will be able to control or monitor the activities of Fulani herdsmen, in that committee, if Fulani man’s cow destroy farm crops, the farmer should be able to report to this committee and the man involved should be investigated and compensation fee should be paid to the farmer or the land owner and at the same time the committee should warn people to stop the arbitrary attack and seizures of Fulani herdsmen’s cows and cattle and I believe with this everything will go on fine.

What is the security implications of all these because, these Fulani herdsmen have killed more than Boko Haram have killed from Jos to Benue to Ondo, to Kwara, Ogun, Oyo  and recently Delta States, these men have caused more harm than Boko Haram. Or is there any link between them and Boko Haram, people have been suspecting their relationship?

I don’t know if there is any link between them and Boko Haram and I also agree with you that they have killed more than Boko Haram. You will also know that Fulani people have also been killed. You know that Fulani depends on cattle for their subsistence living, they have no other business other than cattle rearing and it’s also reported that people have been stealing their cattle, cows and killing them. And Fulani man is a person that once you offend him, he will never forget and forgive you no matter how long it takes, he must take his revenge, so people should respect their rights.

My own solution to this crisis is that if government cannot establish ranches immediately, they should set up a body; and if the Fulani herdsmen’s cattle stray into somebody’s farm, and destroyed his farm crop; the Fulani herdsman who is responsible should be charged and made to pay for the cost of the damaged crops but if a cow destroyed your farm instead of you coming to seek compensation for the damage, you go on to kill the Fulani herds man’s cattle or even kill the herdsman himself, should not happened. I said before that Fulani man doesn’t forgive in a hurry and this is what has been fuelling this conflict.

 And for your information, these herdsmen are not from Nigeria alone. Some of them come from other neighbouring African countries to graze their cattle here in Nigeria. Majority of them are not Nigerians. From the story we have heard, they come from other countries and you have different categories of Fulani. There are some who are very kind, there are some who don’t forgive, there are some who come to deliberately destroy your farm crops, and wait for any reaction from anybody. So, we have some that very hostile and dangerous who can kill and destroy lives.

As an ex-police chief, how do you imagine these arms could have entered into these herdsmen?

I would also like to ask you the same question, how did guns entered into the hands of political thugs? It’s the same way. We have political thugs who carry arms in this country and these arms come through the borders, through the politicians and they give them to the thugs and don’t forget these cows are owned by highly placed politicians, top civil servants, both ex-military officers and serving army officers, so who could get these arms for the herdsmen, I don’t know.

What do you think is the reason for the cow owners arming the herdsmen for?

To defend their cattle and cows.

From the beast of the forest, or from the farmers?

In the past they were using them against wide animals, like lions and rest of them but these days people have been attacking Fulani herdsmen, with sophisticated guns, and they also need these guns to counter these attacks.

But most of them are not trained in the use of fire arms

 What of the political thugs, who carry arms are they trained? They are not trained, too.

So, you are you blaming the security for not being able to check the proliferation of arms in Nigeria?

Yes, even the problem we are having now is because the security agencies are not doing their work very well because if they do, from the beginning you see people committing crime, you arrest them, prosecute them, these things wouldn’t have gone bad as they are now, it’s because the security agencies neglected their works.

  There are these insinuations that Boko Haram while on rampage recruited most of them, in their bid to expands their terrorism act on Nigeria, how far is this true?

I wouldn’t know about that because, I have not been working on that, I don’t know much, but you see, from the story we have been reading, Boko Haram, even recruited younger men in the areas they took over, so if they can recruit young boys, they could as well recruit Fulani herdsmen to help them. But if they recruit Fulani herdsmen, what would happen to their cows and cattle? Would they have allowed their cows to stray about and come to join Boko Haram? That is what I’m asking, because the Fulani man loves his cattle more than anything else. Except some Fulani who have no cattle or cow can or may have join Boko Haram, but I don’t think those who have cattle or cow would have abandoned their cows to join Boko Haram, for what gain?

What is the solution to end the Fulani herdsmen’s threat?

Security agencies should be conscious of their responsibility. People should also be conscious of their duties, people should show more love to this country than they show to themselves. Again, people should have the fear of God and always try to speak the truth and seek what is right for this country.

Are you not sensing these herdsmen are using this terrorism act to intimidate people and take over the farm lands of their host communities?

It’s not easy for Fulani herdsmen to take any body’s farm land. People are making allegations that Fulani herdsmen wants to annex their lands and in all these crises that have been happening, we have never seen where they collected people’s land. Let me say this, they accused the Fulani herdsmen of claiming the lands for Islam, but all the places that the Fulani herdsmen fought with the farmers, they have not build any mosque on such lands, or building a settlements, depicting Islam. What interests a Fulani herdsman is where he can get green grass to feed its cattle and cows, which is what concerns them. They don’t live in permanent houses, they makeshift shanties, they leave here and move to the next place, so the allegation that the Fulani herdsmen want to take people’s land is not true. And Fulani don’t farm, so if they take people’s land what are they going to do with it.

Would you call for the establishment of National Commission on Fulani herdsmen just like other national Commissions we have in the country?

Well,  a committee based will be better because, if you have a National Commission for instance, they will based in Abuja, and you have Fulani herdsmen in the bush and not in the city of Abuja, so unless you formed them on national basis and send them to states, where the Fulani herdsmen are. Unfortunately, people take these herdsmen to be Muslim, but they are not all Muslim because and when they are attacking people they also attack Muslims, but you will find out that the herdsmen in the far North, rustle their cows like what is happening in Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi  states and the rest of them. There was a time people nearly introduced religious situation into the Fulani crisis but luckily God saved us and people realize the danger this would have brought and rested the case.

Are you saying some Fulani are not Muslims?

Well, majority of them are Muslims but there are quite a number of them that are also pagans among them, but majority are Muslims.

 

Do you think it difficult for National Assembly to put a cattle rearing law guiding the herdsmen in this country?

That is what I’m expecting them to do because they should have come up with a law that will restrict the movement of the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle in some quarters and areas in this country. They should come up with law but they cannot do that; I don’t know because some of them or may be majority of them know top Nigerians who have these cows or some of them owned the cows, may be but if these people wants to serve this country very well, everybody should set aside his personal interest and do things for the interest of this nation and their people, that is why they were voted into the NASS.