The Benue massacre

Nigeria continues to hover daily on the edges of precipice as one group of insurgents after another continue to challenge its legitimacy and above all its monopoly over the legitimate use of violence within its jurisdiction. If we accept Max Weber’s definition of the state, as political scientists have done, the successful claim to absolute monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory is the key feature and distinguishing characteristic of a state. In that case, Nigeria’s claim to statehood is tenuous, except in the juridical sense where the international community continue to afford it legitimacy regardless of its ability to project its powers within its territorial boundary.
Today, it is obvious that aside the Boko Haram insurgency, the most urgent security threat to the country is the emergent wholesale massacres of communities by marauding terrorists masquerading as herdsmen. Although the cases of Fulani herdsmen and farmer’s clashes have been going on for years, the inability of the government to stop it is now emboldening the herdsmen to go on wholesale massacres and elimination of whole communities – including helpless women, children, the elderly and infirm – as a way of settling supposed scores.
Two years ago, herdsmen in combat gears, armed with AK -47 riffles invaded several villages and farm settlements in Agatu, still in Benue state and murdered 400 people, most defenceless women, children and the elderly. Not a single perpetrator of the attack was ever arrested or prosecuted even though a group came out to confirm they launched the attacks in retaliation for the stealing of their cows.
The lack of action obviously emboldened the group to launch other attacks and ultimately the reprehensible New Year day attack in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state where over 73 people were hacked to death.
In a way, this speaks volume about the state of law and order in the country and citizens’ respect for the rule of law. The government must realise that its first and primary duty is to provide security and protect lives and property and its failure to do so renders it illegitimate and ineligible to demand obedience from citizens. The Nigerian government has consistently failed to protect its citizens. In a way, its inability to protect lives and property is tacitly encouraging citizens to resort to self-help. Of course we know that even in the state of nature, survival is the first law.
At the mass burial of the victims last week, the emotions on display – grief, anger, condemnation and determination to resort to self-help – was obvious. The frustrations with the inability of the federal government and security agencies to deal with the situation is leading to calls and plans to re-arm the people or form militias to defend themselves against future attacks.
We do not need to remind the government of the consequences of communities resorting to self-help. The government must act now to prevent the arming and militarisation of the Nigerian society. It is far better to strengthen its security apparatuses to protect and defend citizens than allow citizens be forced into performing this function themselves. To allow armed citizens in a country as fractious and ridden with ethnic, communal, religious, and political conflicts as Nigeria’s is a recipe for disaster. That is why the government must do all within its powers to strengthen its capacity for policing the entire Nigerian society, ensure that justice is done to all wronged parties promptly to strengthen their belief and faith in the rule of law and the process. The time to act is now!