Safe Home, See you Tomorrow......??

“Safe home, have a good evening, see you tomorrow”.  This is a common enough phrase that most of us use every day as we head home from work.  We assume we will see each other the next day.  We assume our place of work will still be there, our equipment in good order for us to get on with the days’ work so we can earn our pay and care for our family.

But for too many Fulani families, this has not been the reality this month.

In just the last few days, there have been multiple attacks on Fulani herders as they walk home with their cows from a day’s grazing. 

On the 16^th of July, a Fulani man was walking home in the evening when attackers opened fire, injuring 8 cows before fleeing the scene. (Nywerie, Barkin Ladi, Plateau)

On 17^th July, Fulani herders returning home with their cattle were ambushed by suspected Berom militia.  One Fulani man sustained gunshot injuries. (Jong, Barkin Ladi, Plateau)

On 19^th July, Fulani herders were attacked and 5 cows shot and killed on their way home for the evening by suspected Berom militia. (Jol, Riyom, Plateau)

(See our website for further details: Attacks on Fulani | Whole Truth Nigeria)

That means that this week, there are multiple Fulani families dealing with trauma, fear, uncertainty and loss of income, as well as extra expenses to cover medical care for injured people and  animals. 

You may say, people are more important than animals – yes, true, but imagine if your place of work was destroyed in the night, your office burnt down, your school destroyed, your livelihood attacked, your chance to earn a living ruined.  Consider the trauma and costs involved in making things right…… and that might help to understand the trauma and costs involved for Fulani when their cows are injured. 

Also on 19^th July, Fulani herders were attacked, 3 men were killed and 2 were injured. One cow was also killed and another cow injured by suspected Berom militia.

So now there are 3 Fulani families grieving the loss of a father, a brother, a son.  There are widows wondering how they will care for their families, there are little children wondering where their daddy is gone and why their mummy is crying.

The cycle of violence has to stop. 

Everyone is suffering.

Everyone is longing for peace.

WHOLE TRUTH NIGERIA longs for

ALL voices to be heard:

Christian and Muslim, farmer and herder,

English speaking and non-English speaking

ALL people to know justice:

farmers and herders,

Christians and Muslims

ALL violence to be condemned,

including the many violent attacks done by “Christian” communities

against Fulani, their homes and their animals (i.e. their livelihood) so that

ALL people can live in peace and harmony