An Assessment of the Social Conditions of The Fulani and the Influences on Terrorism in Nigeria.

The last decade has witnessed increasing recruitment of some Fulani herdsmen into the Boko Haram terrorist group, which has dire implications for Nigeria’s security and development. Towards this end, this particularly study was primarily concerned with exploring the social conditions of the Fulani’s in the promotion of terrorism in Nigeria. The study employed exploratory and descriptive qualitative research approaches which relied on primary data sources (i.e. unstructured interviews) and secondary data sources (through literature review from books, journals articles, working papers, and online internet sites) for data analyses. Major findings of the study reveals that, the contemporary status quo of terrorism in Nigeria (i.e. in the last decade) has been characterized by the proliferation of terrorist or radical attacks (particularly in northern Nigeria), by the Boko Haram terrorist group. With reference to the dynamics of contemporary terrorism in Nigeria, the study reveals that there has been increasing recruitment of Fulani herdsmen and school girls as members of the Boko Haram terrorist organization, particularly in the north eastern part of Nigeria in contemporary times. Consequently, the study reveals that there are several socio-economic factors which have made the Fulani easily susceptible to recruitment by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria. These factors include stereotypes, marginalization, stigmatization and discrimination. Subsequently, the study shows the main security implications of terrorism by the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria. These acts include the proliferation of small arms and other light weapons, high tendency for extremism and escalation of violence in Nigeria (worsening the already existing terrorist situation by Boko Haram) and the increase in crime rates and other social vices. The socio-economic implications include disruption in agricultural, health care delivery and educational activities, increasing political tension and threat to social cohesion, disruptions in major economic and other business activities, disruptions in religious and other cultural activities and perpetual fear and panic which have direct bearing on citizens or individuals rather than the state. The study also shows that there are some major challenges which confronts the Nigerian Government in effectively tackling of terrorism by the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria. These challenges include financial challenges, personnel constraints, misunderstanding and poor cooperation between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, high incidence of bribery and corruption, difficulty in obtaining reliable intelligence, insufficient job opportunities, coupled with economic hardship in Nigeria and institutional inefficiencies and deficiencies. Towards this end, the study concludes that the social-economic challenges of the Fulani herdsmen contribute significantly to the promotion of terrorism in Nigeria, and the entire West African sub- region. The study finally recommends that the Nigerian Government should ensure that its state security institutions and personnel for engaging in counter terrorist operations (particularly towards Boko Haram and some violent Fulani herdsmen), across the country should be adequately financed, well-resourced and equipped since it is a major challenge faced by the institutions in providing quality service delivery.

Source: UG