HERDSMEN TERRORISM AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL ORDER AND DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
This paper interrogates the nexus between herdsmen terrorism and criminal justice and its implications for social order and development in Nigeria. Never in the history of Nigeria, inclusive of the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967-1970 has Nigeria been greatly polarized with intense passion in both religious and ethno-cultural lines as currently experienced and expressed due to the persistent terror attacks of herdsmen militia. Political elites have couched on the situation of the day to fan embers of divide and rule or divide and win, not only to escalate the crisis but to continue their political dominance at the detriment of the masses. Efforts of government to contain the situation received condemnation as body language of government seemed antitheses to their avowed statutory role. The paper believes that the terrorist attacks of herdsmen militia across the country is astronomically worse than Boko Haram insurgency with great potential of upsetting the geographical landscape of the Nigerian state if drastic countermeasures are not put in place. Stakeholders’ summit is imperative to solving the menace, backed by legal framework regulating movement of herders. The paper made use of content analysis of extant literature on terrorism, insurgency, herdsmen/farmers conflict and newspaper reviews in its research methodology.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Adamu, A., & Ben, A. (2017). Nigeria: Benue state under the shadow of herdsmen terrorism (2014-2016), World Watch Research. Retrieved from: www.opendoorsanalytical.org/ on September 11, 2018
Adigun, A. (2018) Breaking: Plateau violence spreads as state declares curfew in 3 local governments. Retrieved from: https://www.naija.ng/1176824-breaking-plateau-violence- spreads-state-declares-curfew-3-local-governments.html? on June 25, 2018
Ajibefun, M. B. (2018). Social and economic effects of the menace of Fulani herdsmen crisis in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Social Science Research, 8(2), 133-139
Akinkuotu, E. (2016).Herdsmen recorded video of Enugu massacre – police. Retrieved from: http://punchng.com/herdsmen-recorded-video-enugu-massacre-police/ on April 2, 2018
Akinrujomu, A. (2016). Buhari blames Mali, Libya for Fulani herdsmen attacks. Retrieved from http://www.naij.com/1055833-long-silence-buhari-makes-shocking-excuse-fulani- herdsmen-killings.html on March, 27, 2018
Bello, A. U. (2013). Herdsmen and farmers conflicts in North-East Nigeria: Causes, repercussions, and resolutions. Academic Journal of Interdisplinary Studies, 2(5), 129- 139
Bolashodun, O. (2016). Enugu massacre: Mr. President keep your sympathies. Retrieved from: http://www.naij.com/fulani/Enugu-massacre-Mr-president-keep-your-sympathies.html
Bolashodun, O. (2018). Opinion: Miyetti Allah, pork barrel and change by Azu Ishiekwene. Retrieved from: https://www.naija.ng/1177664-opinion-miyetti-allah-pork-barrel-change- by-azu-ishiekwene.html? on June 29, 2018
Chinwokwu, E. C. (2017). Glamorization of Fulani herdsmen’s criminality and its implications on national security in Nigeria. Online Journal of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, 2(2), 29 – 51
Chinwokwu, E. C. (2018). A study of private security companies in crime control in Lagos metropolis. Unpublished PhD Thesis Presented to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Chinwokwu, E. C. (2018). Terrorism and emerging trends in Nigeria: Challenges and strategies in counter-terrorism. Mauritius: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing
Chinwokwu, E. C. (2013). Terrorism and the dilemmas of combating the menace in Nigeria. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(4), 262-272
Dambazua, A. B. (2007). Criminology and criminal justice. Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd.
Edwards, A. (2002). Hobbes. In A. Edwards & J. Townshend (Eds.), Interpreting modern political philosophy: From Machiavelli to Marx, New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Ekong, C. (2018). Court sentences five men to jail for killing herdsmen. Retrieved from: http://www.newtelegraphonline.com/2018/06/court-sentences-five-men-to-jail-for- killing-herdsmen/ on September 10, 2018
Ewodage, R. (2018). Nigeria overtakes India in world’s poverty ranking. Retrieved from:
https://www.channelstv.com/2018/06/25/nigeria-overtakes-india-in-worlds-extreme- poverty-ranking/ on September 14, 2018
Ewubare, K. (2016). Herdsmen from Libya responsible for for attacks-Buhari. http://www.naij.com/fulani-herdsmen-from-Libya-responsible-for-attacks-buhari.html on May 14, 2017
Fasona, M., Fabusoro, E., Sodiya, C., Adedayo, V., Olorunfemi, F., Elias, P., Oyedepo, J., & Oloukoi, G. (2016). Some dimensions of farmers’-pastoralists’ conflicts in the Nigerian savanna. Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective, 10(2), 87-108
Garrison, A. H. (2004). Defining terrorism, philosophy of the bomb propaganda by dead and change through fear and violence. Criminal Justice Studies, 17 (3), 259-279.
Global Terrorism Index. (2015). Measuring and understanding the impact of terrorism. New York: Institute for Economics and Peace
Gwangwanzo, K. M. 2018). Only justice, fairness will stop Fulani herdsmen, farmers clashes. Retrieved from : https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/justice-fairness-will-stop-fulani- herdsmen-farmers-clashes/ on September 11, 2018
Hammaugabdo, H. (2018). Court sentence five persons to handing in Adamawa. Retrieved from: http://www.leadership.ng/2018/06/13/court-sentence-five-persons-to-handing-in- Adamawa/ o September 12, 2018
Hollander, J. A., & Einwohner, R. L. (2004). Conceptualizing resistance. Sociological Forum, 19(4), 533-554
Ikenwa, C., & Adeyemi, E. (2016). Enugu massacre planned in Kogi, suspect confesses Retrieved from: http://sunnewsonline.com/enugu-massacre-planned-in-kogi-suspect- confesses/ on May 5, 2018
Imobighe, T. A. (2007). Challenges in categorizing domestic terrorism. In Okumu, W & Botha, A. (Eds.), Domestic terrorism in Africa: Defining, addressing and understanding its impact on human security (pp. 14-19). Pretoria: Institute for security studies.
Levtzion, N., & Pouwels, R. (2000). The history of Islam in Africa, Ohio: Ohia University Press
Muhammad, I., Isamila, A. B., & Bibi, M. U. (2015). Assessment of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria using GIS. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention, 4(7), 23-33
Nathaniel, S. (2016). Police arrest suspected herdsman connected with Enugu attack. Retrieved from: https://www.naij.com/942423-breaking-police-arrest-one-suspected-herdsman- involved-in-enugu-attack-photo.html on June 14, 2017
Ndukwe, J. (2016). Dear sultan, Fulani herdsmen are not foreign terrorists. Retrieved from: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/dear-sultan-fulani-herdsmen-not-foreign-terrorists/ on September 13, 2017
Obichie, B. (2018). Benue farmers lose N25bn to herdsmen attacks. Retrieved from: https://www.naija.ng/1194392-benue-farmers-lose-n25bn-herdsmen-attacks.html on September 25, 2018
Odoh, S.I. & Chigozie, C. F. (2012). Climate change and conflict in Nigeria: A theoretical and empirical examination of the worsening incidence of conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Northern Nigeria. Arabian Journal of Business Management Review, 2(1), 110-124.
Okolie, A. C., & Atelhe, G. A. (2014). Nomads against natives: A political ecology of herder/farmer conflicts in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4(2), 76-88
Okorie, T. (2016). Fayose raises alarm as Fulani herdsmen declare war on people of Ekiti (READ). Retrieved from: http://breaking.com.ng/nigeria/fayose-raises-alarm-as-fulani- herdsmen-declare-war-on-people-of-ekiti-read/ on June 30, 2017
Olaniyan, A., Francis, M., & Uzodike, U. O. (2015). The cattle are “Ghanaians” but the herders are strangers: Farmer-herder conflicts, expulsion policy, and pastoralist question in Agogo, Ghana. African Studies Quarterly, 15(2), 53-67
Oluwole, J. (2015) How I was abducted, tortured, released-Olu Falae. Retrieved from: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/190728-how-i-was-abducted- tortured-released-olu-falae.html on May 23, 2017
Onwubiko, E. (2018). Nigeria returning to a state of nature. Retrieved from : http://guardian.ng/opinion/nigeria-returning-to-a-state-of-nature/ on August 25, 2018
Premium Times (2016). Police arrest herdsman with AK47, ammunition in Enugu. Retrieved from: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/209537-police-arrest-herdsman- ak47-rifle-ammunition-enugu.html on October 24, 2017
Ramsey, J. (1993). Terrorism: The trinity perspective. In Han, H. H (Ed.), Terrorism and political violence: Limits and possibilities of legal control, (pp.11-20), New York: Oceana Publications
Schubert, J. (2018). What is criminal justice? Definition field and theories. Retrieved from: http://www.llstudy.contacademy/lesson/what-is-criminal-justice-definition-fields- theories.html/ on May 25, 2018
Sunday, G. (2016). Analysis: The deadly influx of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://www.naij.com/analysis-the-deadly-influx-of-the-fulani-herdsmen-in-nigeria.html
Udemezue, J. C., & Nwalieji, H. U. (2017). Effect of cattle menace on farm land in Anambra state, Nigeria. Current Trends Biomedical Engineering and Biosciences, 7(5), 120-129
Umar. Y. (2018). Yola court passes death sentence on five men for killing herdsman. Retrieved from: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/yola-court-passes-death-sentence-on-five- men-for-killing-herdsman/ on June 15, 2018
United Nations. (2006). Introduction: Criminal justice assessment toolkit. New York: United Nations Publication
United Nations. (2011) Rule of law indicators: Implementation guide and project tools (1st ed.) New York; United Nations Publication
Uzodinma, E. (2016). Enugu herdsmen attack: We have arrested one suspect – Police. Retrieved from: http://dailypost.ng/2016/08/26/enugu-herdsmen-attack-arrested-one-suspect-police/ on June 3, 2018
Vanguard. (2016). Enugu herdsmen attack: Police arrest suspected mastermind. Retrieved from http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/enugu-herdsmen-attack-police-arrest-suspected- mastermind/ on April 20, 2018
Yusuf. I. A. (2018). 2018: Experts identify major business risks in Nigeria. Retrieved from:
http://thenationonlineng.net/2018-experts-identify-major-business-risks-nigeria/ on September 14, 2018
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2019 Chinwokwu C. Eke (Ph.D)
ISSN (PRINT): 2682 - 6135
ISSN (ONLINE): 2682 - 6127
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.