Over 500 people were murdered and over 10,000 internally displaced in attacks in Agatu, Nigeria. The attacks are blamed on Fulani nomadic herdsmen whose grazing routes have expanded further south amid environmental changes. The victims are the Agatu people, predominantly Christian farmers occupying over 100 villages along the Benue River. As farmers and herdsmen compete for land, ethnic and communal conflicts have increased since independence. The document calls for an independent investigation, humanitarian aid, prosecution of attackers, and for the Nigerian government to protect citizens and find a solution to the ongoing conflicts.

1. Mass Atrocities in Agatu
A Continuing Genocide that is Often Ignored

2. March 2016
• Over 500 men, women &
children are brutally
murdered.
• Over 10,000 people are now
internally displaced.

3. What is the solution?
Who are the victims?
Who is to blame?

4. Blame? Fulani, Nomadic
Herdsmen
• Fulani have inhabited the
African landscape for over
1,500years.
• Easily recognized
worldwide, synonymous
with cattle and nomadic
lifestyle.
• Descendants include
politicians (Abubaker
Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s
First Prime Minister),
religious leaders,
businessmen, musicians
and athletes – also
controversial people like
Usman Dan Fodio (led
Fulani War in 1804).

5. History
• Prior to Colonialism,
West Africa had
several kingdoms
based on ethnicity.
• In the past, conflicts
were dealt with
accordingly:
dialogue, war,
retribution, etc.
• Since colonialism we
have defined
national boundaries,
problems need to be
solved according to
their laws – not
contravened or
ignored.

6. Grazing
Grazing routes are going further south.
Attacks are going even further south.
DarkGrey=GrazingRoutes(1976)
“Stars=ReportedherdsmenIncidence(2016)”

7. Victims? Agatu People et al,
Farmers
• Over 180,000
people
• 80% Christian
• Primarily farmers
• Reside along the
Benue River in
Benue State – in
the contentious
Middle Belt.
• Occupying 4 major
towns and over 100
villages.

8. Farming
• Agatu people, like
the majority of
rural Nigerians, are
farmers, even
pastoralists.
• Often those who
live in rural areas
are ignored,
unprotected and
threatened.

9. Reality
“If I have my way, no one should be
eating cow meat again. I hope it will
stop the killing in Agatu”.
- Aliyu Audu, 8 year old survivor.

10. Solution? Disclosure &
Discussion
• Commitment to
justice.
• Disclosure of any
political power
struggle
• Discussion of ethnic
&/or religious
convictions.
• Discussion of
environmental factors
(desertification,
deforestation, etc).
• Disclose grazing rights.

11. Constitution
Nigerian Constitution
Chapter IV: Fundamental Rights 41. (1)
“Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled
to move freely throughout Nigeria
and to reside in any part thereof,
and no citizen of Nigeria shall be
expelled from Nigeria or refused
entry.”
• Citizens are to contribute to
their nation’s development and
prosperity … not destruction or
subjugation.
• But, both the farmers and
herdsmen must learn to cohabit
with one another as a nation for
the peace and progress of our
people.

12. Petition
• We reaffirm our commitment for the Agatu people!
• We reaffirm our commitment to Life!
• We request an independent investigation with international investigators!
• We demand an end to genocide!
• We demand the immediate withdrawal of Fulani herdsmen from Agatu land!
• We demand an end to cattle grazing and farm invasion throughout Agatu land
and the middle belt of Nigeria!
• We demand prosecution of state actors providing weapons to Fulani!
• We demand an end to the protection of Fulani by security agencies in Nigeria!
• We demand humanitarian reliefs for Internally Displaced People in Agatu Land
and Middle belt as a result of these killings and wanton destruction of property!
• We demand prosecution of Fulani herdsmen terrorizing Agatu People!
• We demand respect and justice for Agatu people!
• We demand accountability and action from the government and the President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

13. Conclusion
Ethnic/Communal Crisis
• Ongoing, farmers working their land
and nomadic herdsmen grazing their
cattle will always be in conflict.
• Since independence in 1960, Nigeria
has been struggling to deal with how
to protect her citizens and stop the
killing and destruction.
• Recent years have seen increased
drought, deforestation, desertification
and land degradation which have
caused the Fulani to travel further
south and into new territories.
• Are there religious convictions that are
spurning one group forward (e.g.
politicization of religion in the contest
for power)?
• How can we solve this problem today?