ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER. [ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja.] Vol.30. 09-03-14. THE NOMAD FULANI ‘MILITANT BASE’ IN BENUE IS A TIME BOMB! In spite of the move by President, Goodluck Jonathan, to assist Benue State to dislodge armed nomadic Fulani herdsmen who were threatening their peaceful co-existence, they, (nomads), succeeded in attacking and killing several people, mostly Benue farmers, last week! The nomads’ strategy is to create an assault launch- base in this Central State, from where they could attack in any direction round-about, to Plateau, Nassarawa, Kaduna or even, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. These Fulani are extremely dangerous because, they are always fully armed, itinerant and can easily disappear into bushes and forests without ever being apprehended after any attack, and there is virtually no Nigerian farmer who has not had a ‘deadly’ brush with these nomads in any part of the federation! The Fulani herdsmen/ farmers clashes over grazing rights in Nigeria, has always been a bone of contention between the two parties from time immemorial. In some cases, amicable solutions were proffered, while others, resulted in bloody clashes with fatalities! A renewed and sustained assault of these herdsmen with Tiv farmers in Adeke Village, a suburb of Makurdi, erupted late 2013 and spread with impunity to Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Bornu, Imo, Enugu, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, in January 2014! In all, hundreds of human lives, including some soldiers and a Senator’s nephew in Oyo State, were lost; over 200 houses were razed! We are aware that all security agencies are at ‘red alert’, but the most important and very urgent action is a quick resolution of this grave conflict which poses a time bomb, just waiting to detonate! Though, the right to free grazing routes across Nigeria seems to be the crux of the incessant conflict, it is believed that, some fifth columnists, are supplying arms and ammunition to the herdsmen in order to make the Nigerian State ungovernable for their selfish political gains through these itinerant ‘foot combatants’! We must not forget that the Fulani nomads are mere custodians and serfs to the millionaire owners of these cattle, goats and sheep. Second, we must also be wary that if cautious steps are not urgently employed, insurgents may infiltrate their ranks to penetrate other parts of the nation! There are also Fulani cattle rustlers, mercenaries who would work for the highest bidder! With the right incentive, they had invaded well-stocked cattle ranches, maimed and killed watchmen and guards, carted away stolen cattle to their principals for disposal in the black market! We are aware that there is a Bill in respect of the need for approved grazing routes before the House of Representatives which deserves urgent attention to avoid further violent clashes between these two groups which play vital roles in our agrarian and livestock economy. A Nigerian gun-runner was last week arrested in Gombe, en-route Plateau, to deliver the third consignment of a saloon car-load of AK 47 Rifles and ammunitions, to an undisclosed destination in the State! WHO ARE THE FULANI AND WHY HAVE THEY SUDDENLY BECOME SO AGGRESSIVE? Although their origin is obscure but linked to Mauritania, due to their similarities in appearance, existence of a Fulfude-speaking minority there and the possibility of a North-Western origin of Fulani migration. From the 14 Century, this largest pastoralist group in Africa, spread from Senegal into over 20 countries in West Africa, including Guinea, Gambia and Sudan. The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist, trading people who herd cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, keeping somewhat separate from the local agricultural population. Many scholars believe that the Fulani are of the Judaeco-Syrian origin, but it is generally recognized that the Fulani descended from nomads of both North and Sub-Sahara Africa. They also came from the Middle East and North Africa and settled into Central and West Africa, Senegal, Ghana Nigeria etc. It is said that in Nigeria, the Fulani also known as Fulbe, Puel or Fula brought Islam by force to the pagan/animist Hausa states centuries ago through various wars or JIHADS in order to install Islamic leadership. One such Jihad was led by USMAN DAN FODIO, (Writer and Leader), in 1804 and resulted in the formation of the SOKOTO CALIPHATE, which became a powerful empire in Northern Nigeria. The Fulani ruled over this booming, economic, military and scholarly kingdom that traded successfully with the rest of the world and throughout history have held leadership roles in various Hausa communities they settled into, working as judges, teachers, emirs and clerks. Though the Sokoto Caliphate fell as a result of British invasion, the Fulani maintained a cultural distinction noted in their stricter adherence to Islam and leadership positions as part of the elite of Northern Nigeria as well as physical distinction noted in their lighter skin and slimmer features. These distinctions, coupled with an awareness of their history of conquests and rulership, often gave rise to feeling of superiority, by the Fulani over the Hausa. These leadership positions are recognizable in Nigeria as most Northern Presidents and Heads of State, the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria’s First Prime Minister,1960-1966), Alhaji Shehu Shagari(President 1979-1983), Army General Mohammed Buhari and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua(2007-2010), are of Fulani descent. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the richest individual in Africa, is also a Fulani. With strong Islamic identity and a population of about 18.7 million in Nigeria, their traditional nomadic lifestyle of roaming the country side in search of pasture have constantly brought them into violent conflicts with farmers whose crops were always consumed and destroyed by the nomads cattle; otherwise, they follow a code of behaviour known as PULNAKU, which consists of the qualities of patience, self-control, discipline, prudence, modesty, respect for others (including foes), wisdom, forethought, personal responsibility, hospitality, courage and hard work. The livelihood of an average Fulani depended on his flock of cattle, goats, sheep and rams and would be heart-broken to lose any, through unnatural deaths which often occurred in their frequent clashes with farmers over right to grazing lands! In such scenarios when any of their cattle is killed for trespassing and destroying farmlands, their warring instincts burst forth in retaliation and wanton destruction of lives and properties on a bestial scale! Federal Government’s effort to bring the nomad Fulani caste to civil order should not be limited to Benue State, it must be all-encompassing! Approved grazing lands and livestock ranches are of utmost priority at this precarious period of our national history of government-inflicted insecurity! It is high time we dwelt in unity and economic harmony with our Fulani brethren, who must be recognized for their livestock contribution to the Gross Domestic and National Product (GDP/GNP). PATRIACH ABRAHAM of the Old Testament Bible times, and his descendants were nomadic and they dwelt peaceably with all other tribes throughout their generations. Abraham made an epic journey from the city of UR, in BABYLONIA, across the Fertile Crescent to Haran, and then on to the land of CANAAN, criss-crossing Babylon, Mari in Mesopotamia, Haran, and Aleppo, in Assyria, Hamath, Shechem and Hebron in Canaan and Zoan in lower Egypt, with a large entourage of family members, including a multitude of livestock and no incident of clashes with the agrarian communities along their route was recorded! .[Genesis.11:31-13:18]. Abraham enjoyed a new nomadic life in the hills and plains of the promised land of Canaan, finally settling near Hebron, while his grandson, JACOB, ended his days in Egypt with his favourite son, JOSEPH.[Gen.27-46]. The Patriach’s descendants, the HEBREWS, remained in Egypt for 400 years and became enslaved when a Pharaoh, who ‘knew not’ Joseph’s antecedent as a former Prime Minister of Egypt, ascended the throne. There was however, a divine intervention which eventually led them out of Egypt to continue their pastoralist life as they journeyed for forty years through the wilderness back to CANAAN, the PROMISED LAND, with Prophets MOSES/AARON and JOSHUA, as their leaders, according to the purposive plan of JEHOVAH! [Read the Books of Exodus and Numbers.] In this age of advanced technology which is applicable to all sectors of the economy, it will be full-hardy for any serious government to despise all meaningful steps to avoid issues of insecurity emanating from simple domestic activities of farming and livestock herding. In North America and other parts of the arable lands of the world, the kind of clashes being experienced in Nigeria is unheard of! It is high time the present administration copied their modern template and eradicate this perennial loss of precious lives and properties which has dragged the nation back into the STONE AGE! The Fulani is not, by any inclination, prone to violence as a people because they are nomadic and need more friends than enemies, especially among their own Nigerian brethren! SINCE THE BUCK RESTS SQUARELY ON THE TABLE OF MR. PRESIDENT, it becomes imperative for this government to solve this unsolicited menace without further delay! We need an urgent policy of LIVE AND LET LIVE! We reject, bind and cast, every spirit positioned against the constant supply of ‘NAMA’, GOAT MEAT, BEEF, GARI, YAM, FUFU, APU, FURA DA NONO, MAIN SHANU, VEGETABLES, ORANGES, MANGOES, PAW-PAWS, POTATOES, AND CROPS-YIELDING TREES, through the combined efforts of Fulani pastoralists and all devoted and diligent farmers to our dinning tables, in JESUS CHRIST’S name. Amen. We cannot afford to lack in government’s supply PETROL AND KEROSINE and at the same time lack good food on our tables….GOD FORBID! If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access,to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch & Zfbbc1.blogspot.com]. I am, Yours sincerely,Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor.08058436756 08098194390.g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com . th