By Charles Edet
The relentless onslaught of herdsmen attacks across the South and Middle-Belt regions of Nigeria has once again brought to the forefront the urgent need for decisive action. The latest tragedy occurred on March 20, 2025, in Ndiagu Amofia, Umuhu Autonomous Community, Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzu local government area of Enugu State, where herdsmen brutally killed the only child of a widow, a final year university student. This senseless act of violence has left the community desolate and abandoned, with everyone fleeing in fear.
The herdsmen’s reign of terror knows no bounds, as they continue to wreak havoc across the country. In Akure, Ondo State, farmers took to the streets on March 19, 2025, to protest the alleged killing of five people by suspected herdsmen. This incident occurred barely two weeks after 14 people were reportedly murdered by gunmen in four communities in the same local government area.
The statistics are staggering and alarming. In the past decade, clashes involving sedentary and nomadic farmers have intensified, claiming over 15,000 lives and leading to the internal displacement of more than 300,000 people. In 2014 alone, herdsmen reportedly killed 1,229 people, while between 2016 and 2018, they coordinated approximately 312 attacks, resulting in the deaths of approximately 4,000 people.
These atrocities are a clear indication that the herdsmen are, in fact, terrorists in disguise. Their actions are a blatant disregard for human life and a stark reminder of the government’s failure to protect its citizens.
Investigations have revealed that most of the cows owned by the herdsmen belong to retired and serving generals, who also arm the daredevil killers. These individuals are not only killers but also deliberate destroyers of farm crops. Their actions may result in future famines if not addressed at this growing stage, before it gets out of hand like the negligence of the sprouted beginning of Boko Haram, which the Federal government has failed to contain, as inherited by the President Tinubu’s government.
The government’s failure to protect its citizens is evident in the rising number of casualties and displaced persons. To address this issue, the government must develop novel approaches that would help move the conflict from zero-sum to win-win. Some proposed interventions include promoting climate-smart agriculture, feed preservation and storage, establishment of satellite milk collection centers, community-based educational systems, use of animal trackers, and development of a database for cattle owners.
We demand that the government takes decisive action to address the root causes of these conflicts and ensures the safety and security of all citizens. The National Assembly, Federal, and State Governments can no longer afford to pretend that they are unaware of the reasons behind the persistence of these attacks. It is time for them to take decisive action and implement effective measures to stop these senseless killings and displacements.
We call on the government to:
– Implement anti-grazing laws: Enact and enforce laws that regulate nomadic pastoralism and provide ranching as an alternative.
– Hold perpetrators accountable: Bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice and ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.
– Provide compensation and support: Offer compensation and support to the victims and their families, who have been displaced and traumatized by these attacks.
The time for rhetoric is over; it is time for action. The government must demonstrate its commitment to protecting the lives and properties of its citizens. Anything less is unacceptable.
