Beyond the violence caused by Boko Haram: 520 killed in clashes between farmers and cattle raisers in 2014

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) accuses Nigeria's government of reacting helplessly to the escalating violence between cattle raisers and farmers in the middle of the country. "At the moment, the conflict between the Fulani-shepherds and the sedentary farmers might seem less important than the violence caused by Boko Haram", said Ulrich Delius, the STP's Africa-consultant, in Göttingen on Wednesday. "But the figures are alarming: at least 522 people got killed since January 2014." Many of the victims belong to the Christian Tiv, but there are also Muslim peasants who came to violent deaths. The conflict is not so much about religious issues, but primarily based on a struggle for land and grazing rights.

On Monday, 68 people were killed in three raids of suspected Fulani-shepherds in Central Nigeria: At least 52 Muslims died when heavily armed Fulani raided a village in the district of Gidandawa (Zamfara State) and shot children, women and men indiscriminately. 40 victims were buried in a mass grave on the same day. Another five people died in the outskirts of the village Barkin Ladi (Rakung district, Plateau State), when gunmen raided the place shortly before midnight. Eleven people had already been killed in attacks on the villages of Ganlang and Zama Dede (Pilgani district, Plateau State) on Sunday night.

More than 200 people died between June 25 and June 29, 2014, when more than 20 villages in Kaduna State were attacked and destroyed by suspected Fulani-shepherds. At least 690 houses, three churches and 50 shops were burnt down. More than 15,000 farmers fled from the region. "Many regions of central Nigeria's are now in fear and terror, for the settled population fears new attacks," Delius.

Fuelled by the consequences of climate change, the conflicts between the farmers and the herders (which have been going on for decades) are turning more and more violent. 35 percent of the fertile land of northern Nigeria has turned into a desert during the past 50 years. In search of new pastures, the shepherds therefore move south and end up in a conflict with the farmers. Nigeria's authorities are partly responsible for the escalation of violence too, as they promised the 15 million nomads new pastures decades ago but failed to fulfill the promises. "Instead of working towards an adequate solution to the conflict, President Jonathan Goodluck simply accuses the Fulani of terrorism. Nigeria's government is overchallenged – not only with the struggle against Boko Haram."

Ulrich Delius, head of STP's Africa department, is available for further questions: Tel. 0551 49906 27 or afrika@gfbv.de.