The Fulani herdsmen and farmers crisis are further compounded by the arguments
for and against cattle colonies or ranches. While many view ranches as the panacea to
the crisis, others particularlly the federal government suggest the establishment of
cattle colonies as the solution, according to the protagonists of this view point the
establishment of the cattle colonies is a measure to ‘quickly curb the incessant bloody
clashes between farmers and herdsmen’.
23 At some point, the two terms are mixed up
and become confusing to even the legislature
24 and the executive. Whereas a ranch is
an area of land with equipment and structures designed for grazing and the raising of
livestock such as cattle for meat or wool, a cattle colony is essentially set up for the
purpose of selling of cattle and beef products. A colony is a market square for cattle
meat. The debate became more intense when the federal government indicated interest
to establish ‘colonies’ instead of ranches in sixteen states of the federation.
Some critics queried the federal government’s interest in the matter, as it is the
states that own the lands in their territories by the provisions of the Act. According to
Nigeria’s foremost constitutional law expert, Professor Ben O. Nwabueze:
The cattle colonies which the federal government proposes to establish in every state of the
federation can, therefore, mean nothing other than a place for the settlement of Fulani
Herdsmen. . .Its character as a place for the settlement of Fulani herdsmen is implicit in
the agriculture minister’s long presentation giving details of the proposed project. . . .
25
Nwabueze’s use of the term ‘colonies’ instead of ranches were informed by the
Minister of Agriculture’s misuse of the word in his proposal. However, from the
above quote, he has exposed the interest and politics behind the term. Rearing of
cattle is supposed to be a private business, and, as such, it is not the government’s
responsibility to establish either ranches or colonies for the herders. This is more so
because the president is himself a Fulani and many Nigerians impute ethnic connotations to this rather invidious proposal.
In all of these, the Fulani herdsmen are neither interested in ranches nor colony.
Their interest is the traditional nomadic pattern which is their way of life from
antiquity. One of their strong points of argument is that cattle routes which were
provided for them by the colonial government have been trespassed by farmers and
other land developers in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country. Therefore,
they are prepared to preserve their perceived heritage in whatever circumstance. To
make good their vow, some of them have started carrying AK-47 rifles
26 to ward off
any opposing farmer. A disastrous dimension to this whole armed conflict is that the
law enforcement agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do not take proactive
steps to prevent the killings. A situation that led to Chief E. K. Clark, a First Republic
Minister of Information, senator, and elder statesman, challenging the government of
23 See Statement of Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
24 Daily Post (January 16th, 2018a).
25 PM News Nigeria (January 30th, 2018).
26 Infra note 44.
164
B. B. Orubebe
for and against cattle colonies or ranches. While many view ranches as the panacea to
the crisis, others particularlly the federal government suggest the establishment of
cattle colonies as the solution, according to the protagonists of this view point the
establishment of the cattle colonies is a measure to ‘quickly curb the incessant bloody
clashes between farmers and herdsmen’.
23 At some point, the two terms are mixed up
and become confusing to even the legislature
24 and the executive. Whereas a ranch is
an area of land with equipment and structures designed for grazing and the raising of
livestock such as cattle for meat or wool, a cattle colony is essentially set up for the
purpose of selling of cattle and beef products. A colony is a market square for cattle
meat. The debate became more intense when the federal government indicated interest
to establish ‘colonies’ instead of ranches in sixteen states of the federation.
Some critics queried the federal government’s interest in the matter, as it is the
states that own the lands in their territories by the provisions of the Act. According to
Nigeria’s foremost constitutional law expert, Professor Ben O. Nwabueze:
The cattle colonies which the federal government proposes to establish in every state of the
federation can, therefore, mean nothing other than a place for the settlement of Fulani
Herdsmen. . .Its character as a place for the settlement of Fulani herdsmen is implicit in
the agriculture minister’s long presentation giving details of the proposed project. . . .
25
Nwabueze’s use of the term ‘colonies’ instead of ranches were informed by the
Minister of Agriculture’s misuse of the word in his proposal. However, from the
above quote, he has exposed the interest and politics behind the term. Rearing of
cattle is supposed to be a private business, and, as such, it is not the government’s
responsibility to establish either ranches or colonies for the herders. This is more so
because the president is himself a Fulani and many Nigerians impute ethnic connotations to this rather invidious proposal.
In all of these, the Fulani herdsmen are neither interested in ranches nor colony.
Their interest is the traditional nomadic pattern which is their way of life from
antiquity. One of their strong points of argument is that cattle routes which were
provided for them by the colonial government have been trespassed by farmers and
other land developers in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country. Therefore,
they are prepared to preserve their perceived heritage in whatever circumstance. To
make good their vow, some of them have started carrying AK-47 rifles
26 to ward off
any opposing farmer. A disastrous dimension to this whole armed conflict is that the
law enforcement agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do not take proactive
steps to prevent the killings. A situation that led to Chief E. K. Clark, a First Republic
Minister of Information, senator, and elder statesman, challenging the government of
23 See Statement of Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
24 Daily Post (January 16th, 2018a).
25 PM News Nigeria (January 30th, 2018).
26 Infra note 44.
164
B. B. Orubebe