The security personnel in charge of the Irigwe communities in Plateaus State that were sacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen last week said they were not given orders to stop the attack. In other words, the attack received official approval to commence and be executed without any intervention from the government’s security operatives that included the Army, Air Force, and Police. To many Nigerians, this behavior from Nigeria’s security operatives is not new. The question is that what happens when Nigeria is reconfigured? What happens when Hausas wake up from their servitude wherein, they cannot rule themselves or become Emirs? What happens when Muhammadu Buhari expires? What happens when their grip on the Nigerian military is extinguished? What happens where Southern leaders realize they only need their constituency to be relevant and powerful? What happens when Southerners who gain from the status quo are dethroned? These are questions Fulani leaders should ask themselves. Because the day of reckoning is coming soon when all the killings by Fulani herdsmen, Bandits, and military personnel will be addressed conclusively. Today, Fulani leaders align with Buhari and the violence that is RUGA-inspired. They align with the lopsided appointment that is now synonymous with the Buhari administration. They support the impunity of Miyetti Allah as a fifth arm of government in Nigeria. They turn a blind eye to the weaponization of the Fulani that has resulted in turning a herdsmen tribe into bands of kidnappers, rapists, and land grabbers.

The cries of pregnant women killed in the trimester of their pregnancy. The cries of newly wedded widows whose husbands were sent to the forefront of fighting Boko Haram are accumulating. The wailing of hardworking mothers whose sons and daughters are either be killed, kidnapped, or raped are crying for justice. And the day of payback is fast approaching. Those who have lived or are currently living by the sword must know that they will not go unpunished. We are approaching the end of these senseless and avoidable bloodsheds. When World War II ended, the Nazis were hunted all over the World to serve them justice. One after the other, those who relocated to South America were found and persecuted even in old age. The collaborators who assisted in the killing of Jews were pointed out and made to face the law. The nations who benefited from the looting of Jewish assets were made to pay. This will happen in Nigeria. What the people of Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria have been suffering that has been extended to Southern Nigeria will receive the appropriate wages. This can be reverted if we have a new leader who can orchestrate an era of peace and reconciliation that will engender an era of peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, Buhari and his kinsmen who should be telling him the implications of the onslaught of Fulani-initiated violence are busy enjoying the spoils of unprecedented corruption in high and low places.

All these killings can be avoided because every nation, tribe, or race has enough good individuals who can help to turn the tide of evil. Today, the Nazis in Germany have been incapacitated. And leaders like Angela Merkel have helped to transform her nation from a nation where a sizeable number of people saw themselves as Nazis who are superior to other races or tribes or nationalities to a nation that accepted the highest number of Middle Eastern refugees during the Syrian refugee crisis. This happened because the world stood together to bring the evil and unreasonableness men that perpetrated violence against Jews just as Fulani herdsmen and bandits are doing against Nigerians. Again, this is avoidable and we must do what we can to avoid more bloodshed. In the meantime, we must do what we can to protect ourselves. Youths in communities must form vigilante groups to protect their families. State governors must initiate legislation that will enable these vigilantes to be able to protect their communities with arms because these killings cannot continue. A food crisis is brewing to aggravate what is already a very bad situation. Influential community members must get involved in the training and equipping of these vigilantes because the government has failed in its primary responsibility of securing lives and properties.

Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com