Calling the International Criminal Court to Benue

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“An evil done by man to man shall never go unpunished. If not now then later, and if not by man, then by God, for the triumph of evil over good is but temporary.” Dele Giwa.

“Whenever the vicious population shall be permitted to gather and burn churches, ravage and rob provision stores, throw printing presses into rivers, shoot editors and hang and burn obnoxious persons at pleasure and with impunity, depend on it, this government cannot last.” Abraham Lincoln.

It is no longer news that the reign of terror in the North East Nigeria has extended to the North Central, affecting the states of Nassarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Benue. In Benue, the terror disguises itself as a primitive clash between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers. It began in Agatu local government area last year where an entire community was sacked by gunmen. Since then, the crisis has steadily increased both in scope, magnitude and sophistication.

A number of theories are propagated each day to answer certain questions posed by the current crisis. Who are the real attackers? What are their real motives? Who are their sponsors? How are they so sophisticated? Is the timing ahead of 2015 general elections not more than just coincidental? One theory says the attackers are the Fulanis of West Africa. They want more land to graze cattle. They sponsor themselves with the revenue from cattle. Others say the attackers are mercenaries. The real motive of their sponsors is to reduce the Christian population in the north ahead of 2015 elections. Their sponsors are politicians whose interest it is to destabilize the country and tilt it to their favour. Another theory says the Americans and others who prophesied doom for this country ahead of 2015 cannot wait to see their prophecy come to fulfillment. Therefore, they are actively aiding, funding and coordinating the consistent wave of violence across the country.

Since all these are wrapped up in the name of the Fulanis, let us look at these people. Growing up not many years in my now threatened village, we used to sing songs about the Fulanis and their cattle. We dreaded the cattle more than the men. A Fulani man was not someone to run away from except if he had cattle with him. Whenever they came passing through the village, we the children would line up to watch the cattle graze, fascinated by young Fulani boys of our age who bravely led tens of cattle in the vast field. The Fulanis we knew back then had no bigger weapons than the sticks which they never used on humans but on cattle. But the brand of today’s “Fulani” that is slaughtering people across the North Central owns more weapons than cattle, and appears to me, to be more interested in people to kill than grass to graze cattle. I therefore want to state clearly in the Queen’s English that what is happening across the North Central is not about where to graze cattle or where to plant crops. It has a hidden agenda.

I look at the little children who not only no longer go to school, but who also are rudely deprived of an innocent and serene childhood – all allegedly because they happen to be born on a piece of land where some people want to graze cattle. I look at the women who have become widows and who now must take care of the little children without their husbands’ support. I look at whole families, displaced, humiliated, defeated, desperate, hopeless and altogether disorganized. I look at whole communities, traumatized by too much blood shed. I look at images of human beings, slaughtered at the neck like rams and goats. I look at other corpses, packed together like sardine – they all used to be humans; people with blood flowing in their veins; people you met on the bus, in the market; some of your classmates. They lived as you do – that is – until the “Fulanis” came.

I believe that it is not in the “Fulanis” interest that this crisis should continue. For while it is easy to look at it from one angle as a victim, I believe like Lucky Dube that we are all victims, every time. The people of Nigeria from the villages of Borno to the farms of Benue, are victims. The invader and the invaded are both victims. We seem to be cursed in this country with an uncommon assemblage of blood merchants – conscienceless men and women, in and out of power; power-thirsty and power-drunk demons, spillers of innocent blood and wicked forces in high places.

The international community must not wait for another Rwanda to unfold in Africa. Instead, the International Criminal Court should begin investigating these crimes committed in Nigeria. Let every voice of Jacob and hand of Esau involved in this misadventure that has cost this nation so much in human life be accorded its proper place – sooner than later – in the temple of justice. Good night.