“Nnamdi Kanu Warned Nigeria, Now Blood Is Flowing”

DDM News

What was once a manageable conflict between farmers and cattle herders in Nigeria has morphed into a national crisis marked by violence, political tension, and ethnic mistrust.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the decades-old friction between pastoralists and crop farmers, especially in central and northern Nigeria, has escalated into bloodshed that no longer resembles its agricultural roots.

Initially, the conflict centered around access to land and grazing routes.

For years, pastoralists, mostly Fulani, moved their herds through traditional grazing corridors that ran across the country.

Farmers, on the other hand, relied on the same land for growing crops.

As Nigeria’s population surged, demand for farmland increased, shrinking grazing spaces and setting the stage for recurring clashes.

However, observers say the situation deteriorated sharply after 2021.

That year, a massacre in Plateau State, reportedly carried out by suspected herdsmen, left dozens of farmers dead and entire communities displaced.

The incident was widely seen as a turning point in the conflict, with survivors recounting horrific scenes that shook the nation’s conscience.

Since then, the narrative has shifted from mere land disputes to deeper questions of ethnic identity, governance, and justice.

While many Nigerians continue to frame the crisis along tribal lines, experts argue that the roots of the problem lie in policy failure and lack of economic foresight.

According to analysts, the absence of a structured national framework for livestock management has created a vacuum filled by violence, vengeance, and fear.

Attempts by the government to allocate land for ranching and develop grazing reserves have yielded limited success.

Though some states have embraced these policies, others, especially in the South, have resisted, citing security concerns and local opposition.

Critics say these efforts ignore the pain and loss suffered by farming communities.

“Where is the restitution for the farmers who lost everything?” one social commentator asked.

Many question why national conversations focus more on enabling cattle rearing than on compensating displaced farmers.

The imbalance, some argue, keeps resentment alive and stalls efforts toward reconciliation.

Experts say resolving the conflict requires reimagining it not as an ethnic war, but as an economic disagreement between two vital agricultural sectors.

In countries like Botswana, cattle rearing has become a formal, regulated business, aided by clear land-use policies, insurance, and modern ranching techniques.

Nigeria, observers say, can adopt similar models, encouraging herders to rent land, supporting local feed production, and formalizing seasonal grazing agreements between herders and communities.

Such innovations could transform a long-standing conflict into an opportunity for economic development, job creation, and inter-ethnic collaboration.

But without political will, transparent policies, and equal justice for both sides, experts warn that the crisis will continue to simmer.

Many Nigerians now believe that the issue has gone far beyond cattle.

Some even say prophecies, including those by separatist leaders like Nnamdi Kanu, are beginning to reflect the reality unfolding in rural communities.

“Peace will remain elusive,” one analyst said, “until we stop treating this crisis as a tribal war and start seeing it as a failed business model that needs reform, not retaliation.”

The time for action, many insist, is long overdue.

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