Climate-induced Migration Government needs to urgently address farmers/herders clashes and climate-induced migration issue seriously. In recent times, farmers/herders clashes have grown in scale and frequency, with much destruction. The question of grazing reserves should be considered quickly while climate action-plan put in place. There is no doubt that the farmers and Fulani herders palaver is mostly climate change induced, and it has taken on a dangerous new meaning and dimension in recent times.
The scenario in the South-west is scary, especially in Oyo state where the home of the Seriki Fulani was destroyed- dragging towards a tribal warfare.
The continued attacks on a people for the crime of belonging to an ethnic tribe should not be allowed to continue. While senseless murderers pre-dating their ancestors in mentality but armed with 21st century weaponry should be tracked down and dealt with, the Fulani communities in different parts of Southern Nigeria must never be allowed to be molested. Fulani herdsmen have existed in the South-west for a very, very long time. For ages, they have lived peacefully with others and integrated into many local communities through inter marriages. They are disciplined, proud, brave and hardworking people with integrity and kindness as national values. So calling them kidnappers or, Jihadists does not hold water.
How can the senseless killers and kidnappers really be our own Fulani herders? What can possibly be the justification for Fulani herders to kidnap or slay human beings without provocation? Where there was at least respect for lives of people not directly involved in conflict, there is no longer any rule of warfare applicable. Can it be true that local Fulani herdsmen are involved in these atrocities, even where there is no clash between them and farmers? Truth is, there is absolutely none!
Drought and desertification caused by climate change have been parts of their problems in recent times. Added to this is the encroachment on grazing routes. That is a horrific combination indeed.
Climate change is already displacing many people across the world, forcing them to move to other areas and regions in search of survival. Increasing desertification in the sahelian region is putting pressure on access to water and grasses, taking away the living space and sources of livelihood of millions of people.
With Lake Chad shrunk by 75 percent, there is really a problem in the land! This has combined with banditry and insurgency to create a double jeopardy for herders and farmers alike, forcing more people to move from their ancestral homes to other areas with clement climate condition. The number of people being forced to move southward by climate change and global warming is about three times higher than the number of people leaving their homes due to violent conflicts of Boko haram insurgency and banditry in some parts of the North.
Population migration forced by climate change has already become one of the major crises of our times. In the particular case of the Fulani herdsmen, the encroachment on grazing routes by farmers and property developers is the primary cause of their clashes with farmers. Till recently, however, this was being viewed as a peripheral concern by the Nigerian Government, military and security think-tanks, academia and the strategists. They did not put this on scenario building on time. Now the frequency of clashes and their sheer size, has brought it to the fore as one of the most critical issues on the national political agenda.
This fast-emerging crisis demands an urgent action, a re-look at the conceptual fiat of the term ‘killer herdsmen’ and engaging in a sincere and coordinated effort to make the necessary adjustment by host communities and genuine cattle breeders.
A coordinated action is needed to motivate and implement a practical approach to address this crisis as well as the climate refugees’ inevitable and growing challenges.
Governments, traditional rulers, town unions and other key stakeholders need to engage host communities, help herders lead productive lives, and work for safe and dignified existence. The concept of rural grazing area (RUGA) put forward by President Muhammadu Buhari should be considered in the interest of all.
Farmers/herders clashes have dragged on for so long, and have led to attendant loss of lives and destruction of crops. If permitted to drag on or escalate further, it can lead to tribal warfare. Such a warfare will certainly affect investments in the country agricultural resources: there would be food shortages as farms and animals would have been destroyed as well in the prolonged conflicts.
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