DANGER AT OUR DOOR STEPS: FULANI EXPANSIONIST POLICY IN NIGERIA AND IT’S CURRENT REALITIES ON NATIONAL SECURITY

SUMMARY
In the light of the above discussion, it could be seen that Fulani expansionist policy in
Nigeria has become one of the most pressing challenges and threats facing the country
since the beginning of the 21st century. The effects as were demonstrated above cut
across all sectors of the country to include social, economic and political. Its current
realities in Nigeria is such that there exist a mutual animosity and distrust between Fulani
herdsmen and farming communities. The government on the other hand has appeared
unwilling and incapable of arresting the situation and bringing the conflict to an end.
Hence, the farming communities are left with the responsibility of defending and
protecting themselves as well as their communities against the pastoralist Fulani herders
who invade them unawares and succeed in killing them and destroying their farmlands.
The Fulanis as we know are not aborigines of Nigeria. They migrated into the northern
part of Nigeria between 13th and 14th centuries through Futa Jallon in Senegal, and by the
beginning of the 19th century got integrated into the Hausa culture through a religious and
political revolution organized under the leadership and inspiration of Usman dan
Fodio.1This revolution became known in history as the Usman dan Fodio jihad of 1804.
Ever since the successful Jihad of 1804, the Fulanis have consciously, continuously but
gradually expanded to other parts of Nigeria. This is owed largely to their nature and
factors. The Fulanis are divided into two groups: the cattle Fulani and the town Fulani.