Nigeria: Leader warns of anarchy from herder-farmer row

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria’s president Saturday urged people to avoid making comments that threaten anarchy, a week after a former army chief called for self-defense amid an escalating conflict between civilian herders and farmers.

“It is both shocking and scary to hear the recent comments by a senior statesman calling for Nigerians to defend themselves,” said Garba Shehu, spokesman for presidential Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement.

The comment targeted a statement by former army chief Theophilus Danjuma calling on individuals to arm themselves to ward off attacks blamed on herders in parts of Nigeria. Danjuma also accused the military of colluding with and shielding the herders -- claims that have divided the country.

“We advise former leaders to take advantage of the various forums where people with a history of national security can offer advice to the government without resorting to the exploitation of emotional sentiments,” said the spokesman’s statement.

“The civil war motto ‘Keeping Nigeria one is a must-do task’ rings very timely at this time in our nation’s history. We must be careful to avoid the mess that destroyed other African countries like Somalia,” it added.

The statement said no country can survive a chaotic scenario where civilians indiscriminately bear arms to challenge trained armed forces, warning that criminal gangs could find justification in Danjuma’s comment.

It added: “The presidency wishes to appeal to prominent Nigerians, who have national influence, to use their influence wisely and not continue to engage in public declarations that are likely to inflame emotional passions and threaten national security.”

Violence between herders and farmers has become a serious problem in Nigeria, especially in the mainly agrarian north-central or Middle Belt, with both sides often trading accusations.

Many state governments, such as Benue, have responded with anti-grazing laws, which herders consider unfair.

Experts have blamed the crisis on the depleting Lake Chad and the government's failure to address problems of scarcity, leading to violent competition for land between farmers and herders.