When Nigerians trooped to the polls last March to elect the Buhari-led administration, security of lives and properties was one of the deciding factors for which we voted for him.

Fast-forward one year later, Boko Haram appears to have been decimated to an extent but then, a new set of criminals and murderers disguised as Fulani herdsmen are holding communities to ransom. From Plateau to Benue, from Nasarawa to Taraba and most recently, Enugu, people who should ordinarily be tending to their cattle have become a nightmare leaving sorrow, tears and blood in their trail.

What does the chief security officer of the nation do? He keeps mute! In the face of wanton destruction of lives and property, the C-in-C has lost his voice or so it appears.

It has been alleged in some quarters that President Buhari has emboldened these herdsmen because he is one of them. Although I disagree with this school of thought, the loud silence from the Presidency leaves one bewildered and uncomfortable. It is imperative to note that Fulani herdsmen vs Farmers’ crisis did not start today but in our usual tradition of allowing dangerous situations fester and snowball into large scale violence, we have watched this crisis degenerate.

As a National Youth corps member in Benue State in 2012/2013, I clearly remember residents of Okokolo, Akwu, Ocholonya, Adagbo and Ugboku, all under Agatu local government, leave their homes in the dead of night when these coordinated attacks begin. Benue people are predominantly farmers but herdsmen think it is acceptable for cattle to graze freely and destroy their farmlands without any opposition. What steps did the State Government take to address or arrest the situation then? Corps members in the State sought the intervention of the former governor, Gabriel Suswam, to no avail.

The Senator representing the constituency in the National Assembly, David Bonaventure Mark also took a ‘siddon-look’ approach until the most recent attack in March, 2016 which left at least 300 people dead and several homes razed. His kinsmen became refugees in their own home, right under his nose. Did he just discover these barbaric acts? Four years after, Ak47-wielding cattle herders wreak more havoc from the South to the East. It was reported on Friday 8th April, 2016 that Okada youths in Edo State clashed with Fulani herdsmen in response to the brutal killing of Alex Idemitin on his farmland by suspected herders.

Sunday April 10, 2016 would forever remain indelible in the memories of the people of Dori and Mesuma villages in Gashaka Local Council of Taraba State, following the invasion of their villages by suspected herdsmen. The act led to the massive killings and wanton destruction of houses, domestic animals and valuables.

Monday, 25th April 2016, was the turn of Enugu State when herdsmen invaded Ukpabi, Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the State, killing scores and displacing several others. It was alleged by residents that they were abandoned by members of the Police force while these attacks continued unabated. How much longer before the Federal Government takes decisive action? We must remember that nobody has monopoly of violence; these affected communities could also decide to take up arms to protect themselves and their lands seeing as their government has left them at the mercy of murderers. Situations such as these have tendencies to become an ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria and considering our antecedents, it must be nipped in the bud timely.

The Minister of Information spoke on the Federal Government’s plans to ‘silently’ deal with the herdsmen and farmers crisis. Preposterous! We heard loud and clear how vandals and militants who are yet to kill anyone or sack any community would be treated like criminals but agents of death would be dealt with silently? Apparently crude oil is more valuable than the average Nigerian life, it must be protected.

Now, it is the insulting ‘National Grazing Bill’ which of course the National Assembly has denied deliberating on. Were we to pass such a bill, in whose interest would it be? To pacify who? Fulani herdsmen must be prepared to abide by the rules of engagement in their host communities. This message must be emphatic, loud and clear.

The President himself owns cattle; do they graze on other people’s land forcefully? Miyetti Allah is the umbrella body of these breeders, why haven’t our security agencies invited their representatives for questioning? These perpetrators do not operate mid-air yet our police force has yet to apprehend or prosecute one of them. We do not have to wait till there are reprisal attacks from host communities before necessary actions are taken. Who gives herdsmen licence to carry arms anyway? Are we about to have another Boko Haram unleashed on our nation in the guise of Fulani herdsmen? Why are we leaving communities at the mercy of murderers, why do people have to leave their farms to cattle herders or die? Why do herders have to take human lives in retaliation to killing of cows?

This is not an animal kingdom. From the Presidency to the State Governments and Security Agencies, elected and appointed officials must wake up to their responsibilities. Enough with the conspiracy of silence!