THERE IS NO WINNING IN THE FARMER-HERDER CRISIS; WE ALL LOSE.
By: Paninga Muiliya
Tags: United Nations, Crisis Management, Peacebuilding, Peace, Reporting

A case study of Wukari Local Government, Taraba-Nigeria

“The herders in Wukari were our neighbours before the crisis, but not any longer”. This was a statement made by a young man in Wukari Local Government of Taraba State, on the 12/11/2020.

According to Mr. Yohanna, who is a farmer in Wukari, and a confirmation from other people in the community, the farmer-herder crisis in Wukari began in 2013 and lasted intensively for one year, with several lives and farm produce lost.

Mr. Yohanna, who was a victim of the crisis, stated that when farmers are not in their farms, they get to lose only their farm produce. But if by chance a farmer happens to be in his or her farmland when herders come around, their lives are equally in danger.

Mr. Bako, who was also a victim of the crisis, from Benkinda area of Wukari, reported that their trouble with herders started when herders not only grazed on their farmlands, but also damaged yam tubbers without remorse and attacked farmers in their farms. That ignited anger and responses from farmers, in a bid to protect their lives and properties.

Image Credit: https://dailytrust.com/national-symposium-on-farmer-herder-crisis

As result of the crisis, and over the years, farming activities, business growth, education and the general livelihood of both indigines of Wukari and the herders have been grossly affected in not few ways.

In an interview with Mrs. Yakubu, she said, "I could not harvest my crops, because visiting my farm was risky. As a result of that, I lost everything and my family have been struggling so hard to survive. And I have not been able to bounce back completely". Her husband, who is also a farmer, confirmed that herders who lived in the community had to leave and remove their children from schools within the community, since the crisis began, and these herders are still not living anywhere close to the community.

Image: Mrs Yakubu

Furthermore, Mr. Gamsheya, a business man from Doruwa, in Wukari, reportedly said that the Wukari community flourished with much investors and traders from different parts of Nigeria, but before the crisis. Much houses and kiosks were burnt, farmlands were deserted, and so many traders left the community. To foster peace and avoid further loss of lives, farm produce and livestock, leaders of the Wukari community and the herders' group met to resolve the conflict, with delegates from the Taraba State government.

According to Mr. Gamsheya, leaders of both parties (farmers and herders) promised to reveal those from among them who will violate the resolution made. More so, the Taraba State Government deployed army men to the affected areas to help to avoid any clash and maintain peace.

However, while the crisis between herders and farmers in Wukari may seem to have stopped, the community has not yet known whole peace. According to Mr. Lazarus, who is also a farmer, his younger brother was affected in April, 2020. He said "My younger brother met them grazing on his farmland. He was alone and could do nothing, so he shouted, hoping someone would come around to help arrest the herdsman, but to no avail. And he was wounded".

According to Mr. Lazarus, herders are still causing harvoc to people’s farmlands in their absence. "We have cried", he said, but our farmlands still suffer loss. He continued, "What is happening now could ignite another crisis, and if the government does nothing remarkable to manage the situation, we would have no choice than to retaliate again.

In conclusion, the farmer-herder crisis is one whose root-cause is any form of harm done to properties belonging to farmers or herders. According to Mr. Yakubu, "farms don't move, only people do. And Cattles don't move without herders. I cannot touch your livestock until they come to my farm. We will have no crisis if we own-up to mistakes, apologize or pay for damages, as authorities have instructed". We can live together, happily again.