NOMADISM AND SEDENTARY VICTIMIZATION: THE FULANI-HERDERS CONUNDRUM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nomadism which refers to a way of life of people who do not live continually in a place but move cyclically and periodically is such that have been associated with much exertion of violence throughout record history. Following this custom of hostility, the nomads create intense tensions culminating in the lost of lives and property, vis-à-vis exacerbating security challenges among target communities they find vulnerable per time. The Khaldunian theory of social change holds that the nomads have marked characteristics which predisposes them to ferocity and also, besides perceived vulnerability, usually look out for a few enviable features in their would-be victims’ environments before lunching attack to take over the much-desired resources which they so crave. Lending support also to this line of thought is the Routine Activity theory of crime victimization espoused by Felson and Cohen which was explored alongside Khaldun’s theory to provide a reliable framework for the study. The paper particularly, sought to explore some nomadic factors that may be responsible for the terroristic trajectory of Hausa-Fulani herders in Nigeria with special interest in divulging few possible ways the victim communities might have contributed to their chronic victimization. The paper observed that farmers keep losing lands in their own communities, because of the absence of capable guardian to protect the sedentary farmers from the attacks of Fulani herders. In view to tackling this quagmire this crime trend has generated, it was recommended among others that a strong asabuyya be developed among sedentary communities, egocentrism which pernicious politicians exploit to get into power be strongly condemned beginning from the family level.