Terrorism, Fulani herdsmen and the forced migration of Christians and Igbo Indigines from Northern Nigeria: The revalidation of Biafra?

Christian Chima Chukwu , Anyaoha Okechukwu

Abstract
This paper highlights terrorism, Fulani herdsmen and the forced migration of Christians and Igbo indigenes from Northern Nigeria, and the revalidation of Biafra following the killings of hundreds of Christians, and Igbo indigenes, and destruction of their properties running into billions of Naira in Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Nassarawa and Kogi States. However, the recent slaughter of innocent Nigerians in Benue State including the senseless slaughter of two Catholic priests and their parishioners by marauding Fulani herdsmen heightened the insecurity in Nigeria. Data depended on both primary and secondary sources and literatures related to the variables were reviewed. Aggression and Frustration theory was employed to provide a foundation for the study. Among the findings, the study revealed that the terrorism has become a national menace affecting socio-economic and political development of the country. The study showed that the Boko Haram deadly attacks have not only destroyed hundreds of lives and properties worth billions of naira, but also culminated in the forced migration of both Christians and Igbo Indigenes seeking greener pastures from Northern Nigeria. The study, furthermore, revealed that the current wave of uncertainties in Nigeria is a bye product of an accumulated deprivation, destruction, marginalization, anger and frustration of Christians of the north central geographical zone who would prefer to join their Igbo counterparts to be self ruled in their proposed creation: Biafra. Based on this, the study therefore recommends that the government should protect and safeguard Christians of the north central geographical zone and Igbo Indigenes from being massacred and their properties running into billions of naira destroyed so as to save Nigeria from splitting into "Banana Republics". Secondly, the government should address the symptoms of terrorism and the deadly and continued invasion of Fulani herdsmen rather than the root cause in order to resolve the crisis and halt the dismemberment of the Nigeria nation. Furthermore, the Muslim leaders should inculcate in their members high ethical standards, respect for human life, dignity and also ensure that their adherents are more loving and tolerant of other people and other religions. Finally, the study concludes that since Nigeria is a pluralist society, the government should through the mass media emphasize the essence of peaceful co-existence so as to engender national integration.

Keywords
Terrorism; Fulani herdsmen; Forced migration; Christians; Igbo Indigenes.

Resumo
Terrorismo, pastores Fulani e a migração forçada de cristãos e índios Igbo do norte da Nigéria: a revalidação do Biafra? Este artigo destaca o terrorismo, os pastores Fulani e a migração forçada de cristãos e Igbinos do Norte da Nigéria, e a revalidação de Biafra após os assassinatos de centenas de cristãos e índios Igbo e a destruição de suas propriedades em bilhões de Naira, nos Estados de Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Nassarawa e Kogi. No entanto, o recente massacre de nigerianos inocentes no Estado de Benue, incluindo a matança sem sentido de dois padres católicos e seus paroquianos por vilões saqueadores de Fulani, aumentaram a insegurança na Nigéria. Os dados aqui apresentados derivaram de fontes primárias e secundárias e literatura relacionadas ao tema foram revisadas. A teoria de agressão e frustração foi empregada para fornecer uma base para o estudo. Entre os resultados, o estudo revelou que o terrorismo tornou-se uma ameaça nacional que afeta o desenvolvimento socioeconômico e político do país. O estudo mostrou que os ataques mortais do Boko Haram não só destruíram centenas de vidas e propriedades no valor de bilhões de nairas, mas também culminaram com a migração forçada de cristãos e indígenas Igbo em busca de pastos mais verdes do norte da Nigéria. O estudo, além disso, revelou que a atual onda de incertezas na Nigéria é um produto derivado de uma privação acumulada, destruição, marginalização, raiva e frustração dos cristãos da zona geográfica central do norte que preferem unir-se a seus homólogos Igbo para serem auto-governados, em sua proposta de criação: Biafra. Com base nisto, o estudo recomenda, portanto, que o governo proteja e resguarde os cristãos da zona geográfica norte-central e indígenas Igbo de serem massacrados e que suas propriedades sejam destruídas em bilhões de nairas, a fim de evitar que a Nigéria divida-se em "Repúblicas de Bananas". Em segundo lugar, o governo deveria abordar os sintomas do terrorismo e a invasão mortal e continuada dos Pastores Fulani, em vez da causa principal, a fim de resolver a crise e suspender o desmembramento da nação nigeriana. Além disso, os líderes muçulmanos devem inculcar em seus membros elevados padrões éticos, respeito pela vida humana, dignidade e também assegurar que seus adeptos sejam mais amorosos e tolerantes com outras pessoas e outras religiões. Finalmente, o estudo conclui que, como a Nigéria &eaacute; uma sociedade pluralista, o governo deveria, através dos meios de comunicação de massa, enfatizar a essência da coexistência pacífica, de modo a engendrar a integração nacional.

Palavras-chave
Terrorismo; Pastores Fulani; Migração forçada; Cristãos; Indígenas Igbo.

DOI
10.21438/rbgas.051001

Texto completo
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