*Insists farmers, herders conflict more related to resources than religion
By KEMI KASUMU
“The Fulani are one of the largest ethnic groups across the Sahel and the vast majority of Falani. including President Buhari, are peaceful people who abhor violence and terrorism, and many of whom are working to end it and protect those affected by it.”
It has been gathered that, against the negative narrative fed into the West particularly congress and government of United States of America by some religious leaders in Nigeria assisted by their foreign partners, the country is not as bad in attitude to religious freedom as painted.
This was as contained in a memo believed to have been issued by United States State Department last year stumbled over, which was an exchange of correspondence between State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs Washington D.C. and one John Gregg.
Gregg is believed to be member of one of the lobby groups the Nigerian religious leaders use to advance their course with Western establishments, and who is believed to have written to US government in helping advance those misinformation since the time of President Donald Trump.
Among Nigerians that for sometimes have been allegedly involved in the international conspiracy misleading the world about the true state of security in Nigeria are Bishop of Catholic Mission of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Fr Matthew Hassan Kukah, Lt. General Theopilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd), pastors, bishops, politicians of North Central, South West, South East and South South, and other ethnic agitators, who are said to have deliberately and falsely stocked hatred against Northern Nigeria, Muslims as well Fulani tribal groups.
The memo, signed by Sandra Clark, the US State Department’s Director for West Africa, Bureau of African Affairs, addressed to “John Gregg, of 2711 Commons Drive, Unit 209 Glenview, Illinois 60026, told the addressee in clear language and response to his letter to President Trump about Nigeria why the case he was making against the Africa’s most populous country could not fly.
Although Trump, due to his soft spot for Christian Pentecostal agenda still went ahead and listed Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concerns (CPC), this memo is believed to be one of the reasons it became easier for the new administration of Joe Biden to remove the biggest black nation from the negative status not too long after coming to office.
The USSD had said it had people and partners on ground in Nigeria, who promote religious freedom and address many types of insecurity and also informed him of the steps it took to tackle the issues Gregg raised which included engagements in diplomacy, public messaging, peacebuilding, dialogue, and development efforts, as well as strengthening security , law enforcement, and judicial responses.
Whereas the US State Department acknowledged that there is level of insecurity in Nigeria’s North East, it said it was by ISIS-West Africa and Boko Haram which even attacked military bases and civilians and that the conflict had displaced over two million people and killed tens of thousands, most of who are Muslims.
It said it had seen no evidence of Boko Haram or ISIS-West Africa operating actively in other parts of Nigeria other than North East but that conflict between farmers and herders in the country is a longstanding and complex problem that American diplomats had traveled to every conflict-affected state to assess the causes.
In all, the America’s State Department noted that while many herders are Muslims and many farmers are Christians, the root of inter-communal violence is more related to resources than to religion, as many people from both faiths died from the conflict.
The USSD dismissed the claims of jihad against the Igbos of the South East and Yorubas of the South West, declaring those claims as unfounded as they were merely exploited by political actors to spread fear.
Going forward, it said the Fulani, who are of the largest ethnic groups across the Sahel region, are in their vast majority peaceful people.
It said, “In Nigeria’s Northeast, ISIS-West Africa and Boko Haram attack military bases and civilians, and are a persistent threat to Nigeria and its neighbors. We support Nigeria and other countries in the region as they work to defeat the terrorist groups, protect civilians, and address the drivers of conflict.
“The conflict has displaced over two million people and killed tens of thousands, most of them Muslims. We are the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict in northeast Nigeria. We have seen no evidence that Boko Haram or ISIS-West Africa are operating actively in other parts of Nigeria.
Claims of jihad against Igbo, Yoruba unfounded
“Conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria is a longstanding and complex problem American diplomats have traveled to every conflict-affected state to assess the causes.
“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and as the population continues to grow, the competition for resources especially over control of arable land, water, and cattle has grown as well, in some cases resulting in violence playing out along religious and ethnic lines.
“While many herders are Muslim and many farmers are Christian, we assess that the root of inter-communal violence is more related to resources than to religion, and many people of both faiths have died from this conflict.
“Claims that there is a jihad against the Igbos and Yoruba’s in the Southeast are unfounded and exploited by political actors to spread fear.
“The Fulani are one of the largest ethnic groups across the Sahel and the vast majority of Falani. including President Buhari, are peaceful people who abhor violence and terrorism, and many of whom are working to end it and protect those affected by it.
“We hope this information is helpful in addressing your concerns,” John Gregg was told by the US State Department in the memo.
The US State Department letter below:
