The atrocities associated with armed herdsmen across the country should be a major source of concern for all those interested in the corporate existence of the Nigeria social formation. In my moment of retrospection, I recall with nostalgia the story of the Fulani of Northern Nigeria as narrated by Cyprian Ekwensi, one of Africa's foremost novelist and master storyteller in his fictional novel, *Burning Grass* For followers of Heinemann African Writers Series, his most popular novel, *Jagua Nana* published in 1975, which won the Dag Hammarskjold Prize in Literature is undeniably unputdownable once you begin to read it. And the sequel to it, *Jagua Nana's Daughter* is the icing on the cake. Grab a copy of both books today and read through at one sitting.
On a comparative note, regardless of what Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka's followers may think, and I dare them to incontrovert my submission, which is, Cyprian Ekwensi stands toe to toe with their literary icons home and abroad in all ramifications. That tells us how influential and reverential Cyprian Ekwensi is amongst African writers globally. Anywhere, this piece isn't about our literary giants. It is to forewarned Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, other Fulani organizations and their corroborators in government of the impending doom that would befall them due to the continuous atrocities of armed herdsmen across the country.
The fictional novel *Burning Grass* centres on the simple lifestyle of the Fulani of Northern Nigeria and not the entire Fulani ethnic group. This distinction is important because of the conspiracy theories making the rounds in relation to alleged Fulani killer herdsmen across the country in recent times. This is because there is nothing in the novel that suggests the kind bellicosity we have witnessed amongst armed Fulani herdsmen across the country in the last one decade. The portrait of the Fulani herdsmen painted in the novel is that of a peace loving persona who showcases his nomadic rich culture with pride and dignity devoid of hostility towards other inhabitants of the Sahel Savannah region and beyond. For most us, our knowledge of the Fulani socioeconomic and nomadic lifestyle comes from reading the *Burning Grass* and other secondary sources. The novel examined all facets of their culture. From the vexed issue of cattle rustling, causes of migration to intergroup relationship that's devoid of farmers-herders conflicts currently threatening their peaceful coexistence today.
Following Cyprian Ekwensi, I am swayed by the argument that the Fulani of Northern Nigeria who have lived relatively peacefully with other ethnic groups for over a century seem to have been infiltrated by foreign Fulani herdsmen from other parts of Africa such as Chad, Lybia, Mali, Niger Republic and Senegal. These are the people, in my opinion, involved in kidnapping, killings, raping of women and destruction of farmlands across the country. However, we cannot rule out the fact that there may be accomplices within our indigenous Fulani herdsmen. This is the truth and nothing but the truth. Therefore, all the talks about Fulani expansionism is nothing but a figment of the imagination of those pushing such laughable narrative. How possible is such grandiose ambition in the 21st century? It would seem like those brewing such insidious narratives have elevated criminal elements amongst Fulani herdsmen to the statue of expeditionists just because they go about our ungoverned space like forest reserves committing havoc doesn't mean they can overpower the indigenous people if reprisal attack is allowed by the government.
It is the consequences of such reprisal attacks on our indigenous Fulani herdsmen who may not be culpable that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and other Fulani organizations demur with vigour. Based on the fact that there are historical records to show that the Fulani people had inhabited the North Central, Southeast and Southwest parts of the country before the almagamation of 1914, it would be foolhardy to dismiss the allegations that the perpetrators of the dastardly cowardly deeds are from outside our shores. For the mere fact that they do not discriminate when they kidnap people on the highways lend credence to the fact that they are not domicile in this country and there is no common Fulani agenda. However, the Miyetti Allahs cattle breeders are not doing much when it comes to assisting security agents to fish out those elements whose activities have brought the Fulani people into disrepute. They are also not doing much to encourage the process of acculturation since they have refused to build ranches across the country, which would have significantly reduce the menace of armed herdsmen.
it is high time Miyatti Allah and other Fulani organizations stopped grandstanding and begin to consider building ranches, if not, very soon they may be out of business. Why do I say so? Anyone who has been following the proliferation of small arms in the continent lately based on incessant wars and increased terrorist activities would agree with me that landmines are likely to follow soon. And the likelihood of devious people procuring such explosive device in the black market to teach rampaging armed herdsmen a lesson is staring us in the face. In addition to that there are many sites on the internet one can learn how to make explosive device for free. I have a hunch that someone somewhere is surfing the internet in that regard. When this explosive devices are introduced into the farmers-herders conflicts and the fight against other kinds of criminality associated with armed herdsmen, one thing is certain, the age-long tradition of cattle rearing would simply come to an abrupt end since the grazing routes would no longer be safe for both indigenous and foreign Fulani herdsmen.
Metaphysically speaking, the introduction of explosive device would bring about the burning grass that Cyprian Ekwensi didn't envisage when he conceived the idea of writing his enthralling novel.
*Felix Akpan, PhD*
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