On herdsmen attacks

THERE has been a dramatic escalation in attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in recent times. The brutality and impunity with which they assault people and sack communities without regards to the law is worrisome. Nigeria is still reeling from the pang of Boko Haram insurgency, yet the herdsmen menace is making the already tense security situation worse.

Fulani herdsmen have been named as one of the deadliest terror groups in the world comparable to Boko Haram, ISIS, the Taliban and Al- Shabaab. The group has wrecked enough havoc to be acknowledged by the global community as the fourth deadliest group in the world.

The Fulani militant as they are known is made up of members of Fulani, a tribe of over 20 million people who are nomadic grazers and who are native to at least seven West African countries. The tension between the Fulani herdsmen and farming communities has been in existence for several years, but has seen a dramatic escalation in recent times and now includes kidnapping, attacks and killing.

Between 2010 and 2013, Fulani militants killed about 80 people in total, but by 2014, they had killed 1,229 people. Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina states have been the worst hit of late having suffered crushing attacks from the Fulani herdsmen with a heavy toll in human lives and property.

Fulani herdsmen allegedly are brutally killing natives of invaded farming communities including women and children in various states across the country. They are armed with sophisticated weapons and usually attack their target communities at a time they are most vulnerable such as midnight or on Sundays when they are worshiping in the church, killing people indiscriminately and burning houses while looting properties. The Nigerian police and even the military look powerless to defend the victims or stop them from being mercilessly slaughtered in their homes. I urge the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the violence.

• Yomade Balogun,

Oyo State.