NigeriaDecides: A Little Hope For Herders And Farmers

The elections raise hope for a better future for farmers and herders in Nigeria.

In Dowaya in the state of Adamawa in the northeast of the country, shepherds and villagers hope that after the elections, the government will put an end to the ancestral conflict that has left thousands dead and many displaced across the northern region of the country.

The two sides blame each other for the brutal and repeated attacks in the central belt area on land and grading routes.

“This is what we are preparing with all we have to vote. Vote for the person who will wipe our tears and give us peace because voting for the person (Atiku) who will bring us justice and wipe our tears. If we report to him, he will hear us and help us get home.” Hopes Linus Gajere, a Dasso fighter whose house was set on fire during a shepherding attack.

“We are all together, we are all human beings, we are all religious. The reason we are all fighting, fighting like dogs is wrong automatically. Please, we draw the attention of the government to the fact that it must interfere in the affair (clashes between hunters and herdsmen) so that we can sit peacefully.“Aliyu Nuhu secretary of the Ngurore breeders association.

With 190 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous African country, divided almost equally between a predominantly Muslim North and a predominantly Christian South.

Agricultural regions in the central states of the country are slightly more mixed than average, including those where community violence has been terrible.

Sedentary farmers being essentially Christian and nomadic Moslem herders, the conflict has often been exploited for ethnic, religious and political purposes.

In the past two years, which has seen a surge in violence, Buhari has been accused of supporting Fulani Muslims like him. Mr. Abubakar is also of this ethnic group, originally from Adamawa.

In the past two years, which has seen a surge in violence, Buhari has been accused of supporting Fulani Muslims like him. Mr. Abubakar is also of this ethnic group, originally from Adamawa.