As Nigeria continues to experience widespread violence, the need for localized solutions has become urgent. This urgency was amplified when former U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a military coup. The nation finds itself in a time of great unrest. This is particularly significant in regions where farmer-pastoralist conflicts are turning violent at a record pace. This violence has impacted communities already suffering from the effects of climate change and conflict, damaging farms and agricultural supply chains amid a harsh food shortage crisis.
This reality is starkly illustrated by the ongoing violence in southern Kaduna State, where this church-run primary school was wrecked during clashes in 2018. Aliyu, a Fulani herder today, he personifies the reality for so many who continue to suffer the consequences of these violent clashes. He’s even tweeted about his fears of the nonstop assault on his community. The attacks and the incursions have really undermined their lifestyle, their way of doing things.
Even as insecurity increases across our country, according to Nigerian local leaders and scholars, Nigeria should develop its own strategies to combat violence rather than relying on outside intervention.
Escalating Violence and Its Impacts
The violence stemming from farmer-herder clashes in Nigeria’s middle belt has become one of the country’s most pressing security issues. The experts suggest this conflict is six times deadlier than the decade-long insurgency initiated by Boko Haram. Yet it exceeds the brutality perpetrated by other ISIL-linked factions, such as those terrorizing northern Nigeria. As of 2023, violence has resulted in over 1,300 deaths. Whole communities have been uprooted and farming in the region has suffered catastrophic setbacks.
In Miango, a Christian enclave in central Plateau State, armed militia have repeatedly targeted and killed defenseless Christians. Consequently, they have completely failed to get farmers farm access. This has resulted in a crisis of massively reduced food output, partially driving Nigeria’s increasing food shortages and hunger. This pervasive violence is not only undermining economic prosperity, but it jeopardizes national security and the social fabric of our communities.
Boko Haram’s insurgency has killed tens of thousands in the last decade. The collective violently enforces the adoption of hardline interpretations of Islam across northern Nigeria’s mostly Muslim states. Their crimes against humanity have terrorized communities and displaced up to 425,000 people. This crisis should serve as a wake-up call for smart governance and more rigorous security measures.
Calls for Local Solutions
Amidst the growing unrest and Trump’s recent threats of military intervention, many Nigerians are advocating for homegrown solutions to address their security challenges. As local leaders, we are the first to admit when the government is failing to protect citizens and to truly get to the heart of what’s driving violence.
Researcher Samuel emphasized that “the lack of political will is what has made insecurity drag [on] for this long.” He was able to do this because he expressed that the government’s first priority should be protecting lives and their properties. He stated that just putting law enforcement on the ground, without addressing the root causes, would not produce long-term success.
New community mediation programs have been started in Yobe and Gombe states. These grassroots efforts are successful because they nurture conversations and relieve hostility and promote understanding between warring factions. Yet these initiatives are still the exception and require wider support to stem the epidemic violence that besets the nation.
“When the government fails to protect people who have been attacked several times over the years, of course they will accuse the government and security forces of collusion.” – Samuel
The Debate on Foreign Intervention
Trump’s criticism of U.S. intervention in Nigeria has triggered an intense debate among the American public and political leaders. Indeed, during his first term, Nigeria was given CPC designation for the unrelenting religiously motivated violence. His recent comments sparked new concerns that this kind of foreign military intervention would only make already tense situations worse – not better.
As violence spiked, some called for foreign intervention to help curb the violence. Others are quick to caution that those moves risk creating unintended consequences. Zhongo, a local leader, expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu would devise a strategy that relies on internal forces to combat terrorism without inviting external powers.
“We hope that Tinubu can come up with a strategy to use internal forces to fight the terrorists and not invite external forces; it is going to be a shameful thing.” – Zhongo
In response, the Nigerian government defiantly dismissed allegations of religious intolerance. To that effect, it loudly touts its commitment to safeguarding every citizen’s freedom of religion. President Tinubu stated that characterizing Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect the nation’s reality or the government’s efforts in promoting religious freedoms.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality…” – President Bola Tinubu
Debates over the United States’ foreign intervention continue. Most analysts agree that good governance, along with more active civil society engagement, is needed to foster a genuinely enduring peace in Nigeria.
