ABSTRACT

Abstract

Nigeria is a pluralistic and secular nation, right from its emergence in 1914, had passed through many challenges and crisis, to which the country eventually survived and overcame. However, the issue of insecurity of lives and properties due to multifaceted factors is still unachievable. Perhaps the reason for this logjam which ought to be the major responsibility of government is connected to social injustice, mis-governance, systemic problem, ethno-religious and communal conflicts and recently the banditry, Boko-Haram insurgence and conflict between the nomads’ herdsmen and farmers. The conflict between the two stakeholders in agricultural system and animal production is indeed an age long crisis. However, the new dimension to the conflict right now, is characterized with some conspiracy theories, politicking and demonization of a particular tribe (Fulani) and religion (Islam).The new trend of the conflict as some stakeholders allegedly claimed, is no longer herdsmen versus farmers conflict, but indeed an attempt by President Muhammad Buhari (A Fulani man and Muslim) to “Fulanized” and “Islamized” the country. Ever since the 1^st and 2^nd coming of the president in May 29, 2015up till date, the media, socio-cultural and ethnics groups, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), opposition parties have criticized and opposed all measures the government is trying to take to avert the crisis. They even alleged that those measures by the government, is an attempt by a Fulani man to favour his kinsmen and equally to hijack land from rightful owners despite existing Land Use Act of 1978 which gave the State Government prerogative power to own and distribute land. This paper therefore, adopt descriptive/historical method at x-raying the new trends in the conflicts, investigate the role of bandit, kidnappers and cattle rustlers in aggravating the crisis, appraises the causes and effects of the new deadly trends, the conspiracy theories and establish why Islamic concept of “Maslaha” (public interest) will ultimately be a catalyst and panacea to the challenges.

Keywords: Maslaha (Public Interest); Fulani-Herdsmen; Farmers; Banditry; Panacea; Nigeria.