FARMER-GRAZIER CONFLICT IN MENCHUM

• Interim Government Updates
• January 17, 2023

Traditional Leader, Others Killed In Menchum County

The dust of the ongoing conflict is still clouding the air in Menchum County and a new occurrence away from the conflict has put the people of Fungom LGA under consternation. Herdsmen from neighboring Nigeria have crossed borders to inflict pain on the people of Fungom, killing a Traditional leader and others.

What could prompt this macabre act?

Chief Mathias Chi Eweh, his son, and four others have been killed by suspected herdsmen in a farming community of Munkep, Fungom LGA, Menchum County of the Savannah Zone. The armed herdsmen said to have come in from Nigeria reportedly stormed the area and carried out the killings. Though it is not clear what provoked the killings, we gathered from sources that this is not the first time herdsmen believed to be coming from neighboring Nigeria are staging cross-border attacks in that area. Last year, many were killed when they protested that cattle belonging to herdsmen from Nigeria had encroached into their farm lands and destroyed their crops.

Although No authority has made any official statement. Looking at the Cause of Conflict, We go back to the incident that began November 2022, when nomadic Fulani herdsmen from Nigeria reportedly grazed cattle on farmland at Gayama. The owner of the farmland hit back, shooting two herders to death. This provoked a counter attack from Fulani herders who rather went on an offensive operation, with sporadic wanton killing on the Esu community living at the borders. People living at peripheral localities of Esu, where farmer/grazier clashes are common have it that, the problem dates back to decades.

Nfua Franklin, an inhabitant at Gayama is a living witness. “I have been in Gayama for more than thirty years. The problem didn’t start today. If you go to the administration, it is recorded in their books. The administration has gone there more than five times for farmer/grazier issues”

While problems between farmers and graziers occur frequently, experts contend that farmer grazier conflicts can be avoided through concessions. Victims of the killing on either sides have been wailing and groaning, calling for intervention from leaders. Complains were tabled by elites alongside members of Esu Cultural and Development Association -ECUDA to administrative leaders of Menchum County. The response was the organisation of a security meeting, which took place at the Esu palace esplanade on January 14th, 2023, chaired by the colonial Senior Divisional Officer of Menchum, Abdoullahi Aliou. At the meeting, stakeholders arrived some resolutions including; creation of a military base along the border areas of Munkep, Gayama and Munka, form a farmer grazier commission made up of Fulani and natives of Esu and identify and report cases of assault.

After presiding the security meeting, the colonial SDO assured the community that he would table the problems and resolutions to hierachy for further intervention. Abdoullahi Aliou extended a hand of solidarity, handing 50, 000 FCFA to victims in Esu affected by the conflict. On the side of Nigeria, a conflict assessment meeting was held on January 4, by Fulani men in Kashibila, a village at the border line of Nigeria. Videos of the meeting shows Nigerian Fulani graziers naming a sub chief on the side of Esu for allowing them graze on land in Esu after collecting grazing fee. The said chief however denies, saying it is an allegation. With the conflict resolution meetings held, villagers are hopeful that implementing agreed resolutions would put an end to wailing.

To wrap it all up with the Context of this Conflict;

Esu is located in Fungom LGA, Menchum County of the Savannah Zone of Ambazonia. It has vast grassland that extends to the borders with Nigeria. The grassland which favours domestication of livestock and farming is the subject of conflict. Natives of Esu who are predominantly farmers cohabit with Fulani who are predominantly cattle rearers. Both farmers and graziers rely on land for livelihood, thus squabbles occur too often. People of Esu often report on farmer/breeder disputes from two fronts: with Fulani resident on Esu soil who carry out grazing and with Fulani living at the borders of neighboring Nigeria who also keep cattle for livestock.