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The bodies of six police officers, drafted to rescue three missing officers in Ohoror, Ughelli LGA of Delta State, but allegedly killed by…
The bodies of six police officers, drafted to rescue three missing officers in Ohoror, Ughelli LGA of Delta State, but allegedly killed by herdsmen, have been discovered by security agents and local vigilantes. The officers went missing on 24 January 2024 after responding to a distress call by one Moses Progress, who was attacked when performing a sacrifice. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Commander of 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Ugochukwu Unachukwu said the army uncovered an illegal gun factory in Onicha Olona community, Aniocha North LGA of Delta State, arresting the mastermind and others involved in the family business.
The realisation that there are perhaps as many ungoverned spaces in Delta State as in other places is concerning. The herder menace in the state has been a crisis since at least 2018, with herdsmen regularly ambushing travellers using the region as a transit hub to get to the Northcentral, and has been discussed in the state’s House of Assembly. The conflict and violence are partly driven by competition over scarce resources, environmental degradation and historical grievances. The cycle of inter-communal violence, clashes with farming communities, and clashes with law enforcement agencies underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift in the way Nigeria’s pastoralist communities interact with their surroundings. The lack of urgency in addressing this issue allowed the problem to fester, leading to the tragic events in Ohoror, where a group of underprepared and under-equipped police officers were overwhelmed by the insurgents. The police also erred in not giving the problem the attention it deserved because it continued to send in small companies of police officers. Subsequent commissioners of police have barely sustained whatever anti-crime momentum they initiate, so it is easier for the police to run out of steam, thereby contributing to the growth of the local crime industry. The illegal weapons manufacturing industry is thriving in many states, despite regular military raids. One reason is the high demand for weapons, fuelled by the forex crisis and the difficulty of importing weapons through approved channels. As a result, local armed groups have set up weapons manufacturing hubs to meet the demand, despite the risks involved. In a 2020 report tagged Small Arms, Mass Atrocities and Migration in Nigeria, SBM Intelligence found that an AK-47 rifle could be obtained for ₦300,000 ($187.26, 14/3/24). We have reason to believe that increased demand has led to a rise in the prices of weapons. According to the Small Arms Survey, in 2020, Nigeria had an estimated 6.2 million arms in the hands of civilians, excluding those of the military and law enforcement agencies, with government agencies accounting for only 586,600 firearms. In the final analysis, the failure of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons created in May 2021 to achieve its raison d’etre means that the burden of mopping up illicit weapons lies on an overstretched and overburdened military and paramilitary agencies, the latter which has been accused of fuelling the problem by not accounting for its missing, stolen weapons. Delta State’s killings also highlight the need to address the challenges associated with nomadic herding. While the grievances and conflicts associated with nomadic cattle herding have deep historical roots, there is growing recognition that a combination of ranching and legal restrictions on the nomadic carrying of cattle could offer a pathway towards reconciliation and sustainable coexistence. Ranching, as an alternative to nomadic herding, holds immense potential for transforming Nigeria’s pastoralist communities and fostering greater harmony with other groups. In parallel with promoting ranching as a viable alternative, legal restrictions on the nomadic carrying of cattle are essential for ensuring the effective management of Nigeria’s natural resources and preventing conflicts between pastoralist and sedentary communities. The tragic loss of lives in Delta State serves as a sobering reminder of the urgency of tackling the root causes of conflict and violence associated with nomadic herding.