Beyond the Headlines: The Untold Truth behind Nigeria’s Herders-Farmers Clashes

Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano

In the open plains and forests of Nigeria, a silent war has been simmering for years not of politics or power, but of land, survival, and silence. The herders-farmers conflict has too often been reduced to a tribal fault line, a religious divide, or criminal chaos. But these simplifications betray the truth.

At the heart of this crisis lies a broken promise one owed to the Fulani pastoralists and to the farmers whose lives depend on the soil. And no one is innocent: not the state, not the media, and certainly not the traditional leaders entrusted to guard the peace.

Forgotten Grazing Reserves, Abandoned Routes

Years ago, Nigeria had a system imperfect but working. Grazing reserves and cattle routes were mapped and maintained. Fulani herders moved with their livestock, guided by seasonal knowledge and mutual understanding with farming communities.

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Then came neglect. The cattle routes began to vanish overtaken by real estate, agriculture, and urban expansion. Traditional leaders, once responsible for protecting these routes and reserves, looked away. Some traded silence for political favor, others lacked the will or means to act. The fallout was predictable disorder and dispute.

Climate, Conflict, and the Collapse of Order

Desertification and population growth pushed herders further south. With no designated routes, they entered farmlands. Farmers, facing the destruction of their crops, fought back. Without state mediation or proactive governance, friction turned into fire.

This isn’t just about cows and corn. It’s a humanitarian crisis displacing families, destroying livelihoods, and feeding deep ethnic mistrust.

The Misjudged Fulani Narrative

The Fulani are often vilified in mainstream storytelling accused broadly and unjustly. Yes, violent incidents have occurred. But many forget the herders who lose cattle to rustling, the youths gunned down in disputes, or the elders beaten far from home.

The media has failed here. Stories are told with bias. The farmer’s plight is humanized; the herder’s loss is minimized. But both bleed, and both deserve justice.

A Rare Example of Political Will

It’s not all silence. Some leaders have tried.
In 2015, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former Governor of Kano State and himself a Fulani, took bold steps. Recognizing the root of the crisis, he launched a program to modernize livestock development. He sent 60 Fulani youths to Turkey for training in artificial insemination techniques, aiming to reduce nomadic grazing by improving local productivity. Unfortunately, the initiative was poorly managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

But Ganduje didn’t stop there.

He established a settlement in Dansoshiya Forest, where he built 25 housing units for Fulani herders. The settlement was thoughtfully designed and included essential amenities such as schools for children, a clean water supply for both human and livestock use, veterinary services to support animal health, and provisions for sustainable cultivation of grass and herbs to ensure year-round feeding. To enhance safety and stability, a police and security outpost was also incorporated, serving as a hub for peacebuilding and conflict resolution within the community.

This wasn’t just infrastructure, it was a vision of coexistence. A way to bring herders into stable communities while preserving their livelihood and reducing conflict.

In addition, Kano State under Dr. Ganduje conducted a Fulani headcount, the first of its kind identifying both resident and nomadic populations. This data formed the basis of a landmark report submitted to the Federal Government, which contributed directly to the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in Abuja.

That effort was guided by a committee chaired by Prof. Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, with members drawn from Fulani associations, academia, tribal communities, journalists, and civil society which form a model of inclusive policymaking.

Nigeria’s Worst-kept Secret

This is a national crisis and Nigeria is the worst-hit country in Africa when it comes to herders-farmers conflict. What began as an ecological challenge has evolved into a political, economic, and humanitarian disaster.

And still, few are telling the full story.

A Call for Historical Justice

If peace is to return, the truth must be told. Not just the truth of who struck first, but of who neglected first.

To address the root causes of the herders-farmers crisis and build lasting peace, we must take decisive and coordinated actions. First, there is a need to reestablish and protect grazing reserves, ensuring they are properly demarcated and maintained. Alongside this, we must legally secure the traditional cattle routes and invest in modernizing pastoralism to reduce dependence on seasonal migration.

It is also essential to hold both political and traditional leaders accountable for past neglect and future responsibilities. Furthermore, the media must undergo a reform to ensure ethical, fair, and balanced coverage, particularly in stories involving pastoral communities. Lastly, Nigeria must encourage and replicate bold, grassroots solutions like the Dansoshiya settlement project, which offer practical models for peaceful coexistence and economic development.

This story must be more than a headline. It must be a turning point.

The herders-farmers conflict is not just a tale of clashes over land, it is a mirror of our national failure to protect the vulnerable, to preserve inherited systems, and to tell stories with fairness. For too long, the Fulani narrative has been told by others often unfairly, often incompletely.

But history does not forgive silence. It remembers those who spoke when it mattered.

If we are to build a peaceful, united Nigeria, we must first acknowledge the truths buried under decades of neglect, failed leadership, and distorted headlines. We must amplify the voices that have long been drowned, and tell stories complete stories that reflect the full picture.

This is not just journalism. It is justice.
It is not just reporting. It is remembrance.
And it is not just history. It is a path forward.

Umar Idris Shuaibu is a digital journalist based in Kano. He can be reached via email at shuaibuumaridris@gmail.com.