Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A prominent constitutional lawyer and public affairs commentator, Chief Malcolm Emokoniovo Omirhobo, has issued a strongly worded press statement challenging recent remarks attributed to Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi on the persistent conflict between herdsmen and host communities across Nigeria. Omirhobo described the narrative that herdsmen are “part of us” and therefore must be accommodated as a dangerous oversimplification of a complex and deadly national crisis, warning that such rhetoric risks legitimising lawlessness and deepening insecurity.
In the statement, Omirhobo argued that Nigeria’s history does not support claims that violent clashes are an inevitable by-product of coexistence. He recalled that long before the current wave of insecurity, Fulani herdsmen and farming communities lived side by side in many parts of the country under well-defined arrangements. These included recognised grazing routes, respect for farmlands, community-based dispute resolution, and adherence to local laws and customs. According to him, peaceful coexistence was sustained not by force or entitlement but by consent, mutual respect, and the rule of law.
He maintained that the present crisis represents a sharp departure from that historical reality. What has changed, Omirhobo said, is not the diversity of Nigeria’s communities but the emergence of a mindset that excuses violence, rationalises trespass, and treats the seizure of land under armed intimidation as acceptable. In his view, the core issue is not ethnic identity or occupation, but unchecked criminality and the gradual normalisation of actions that undermine constitutional order and community safety.
Omirhobo stressed that in a modern democratic society, open grazing is no longer sustainable. He described the practice as obsolete and ill-suited to contemporary realities where population growth, land pressure, and competing economic activities demand clear regulation. Continuing open grazing, he argued, has facilitated recurring conflicts marked by destruction of crops, displacement of rural populations, and loss of lives. For him, Nigeria cannot meaningfully pursue peace and national cohesion while a system that enables constant trespass and confrontation remains in place.
Central to his argument is the call for a decisive nationwide transition to ranching. Omirhobo characterised ranching as a lawful, modern, and globally accepted method of animal husbandry that allows livestock rearing to coexist with farming without encroachment or intimidation. He noted that ranching protects crops, property, and livelihoods while also offering herders a more sustainable and productive system. In his assessment, embracing ranching is not an attack on any group but a practical solution that aligns Nigeria with international best practices and constitutional norms.
The lawyer rejected the notion that Nigerians should simply “learn to live together” in the midst of killings, farm destruction, and land seizures. He said coexistence imposed through fear or coercion cannot produce genuine peace. Instead, he insisted that peaceful living must be grounded in justice, accountability, and equal application of the law. Any call for harmony that ignores the lived experiences of affected communities, he warned, risks appearing insensitive and dismissive of their suffering.
Omirhobo further argued that Nigeria’s constitutional framework does not grant any ethnic or occupational group superior rights to land, life, or security. He emphasised that the country is a constitutional democracy, not conquered territory, and that all citizens are subject to the same laws regardless of background. Downplaying mass killings and rural devastation under the language of inevitability, he said, undermines national unity and sends a troubling signal that violence may be tolerated if framed as cultural necessity.
In his statement, Omirhobo underscored the importance of unequivocal condemnation of criminal acts linked to the herdsmen crisis. He called for equal enforcement of the law without ethnic or religious bias, insisting that perpetrators of violence, as well as those who sponsor or excuse it, must be held accountable. He also stressed the need for respect for host communities and indigenous land rights, warning that failure to address these issues honestly would only entrench resentment and prolong instability.
The remarks come amid ongoing national debate over grazing policies, land use, and security, with several states enacting laws against open grazing while others advocate dialogue and accommodation. Omirhobo’s intervention adds a legal and constitutional dimension to the discussion, framing the crisis not merely as a social dispute but as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and equal citizenship.
Analysts note that the herdsmen-farmer conflict has become one of Nigeria’s most persistent security challenges, contributing to food insecurity, humanitarian displacement, and inter-communal tension. Against this backdrop, Omirhobo’s call for ranching and firm law enforcement reflects growing public frustration with approaches perceived as lenient toward criminal elements.
Concluding his statement, Omirhobo argued that true patriotism requires confronting uncomfortable truths rather than masking them with conciliatory language. For Nigeria to achieve lasting peace, he said, justice and equal protection must be guaranteed to farmers, herders, and communities alike. Anything short of this, he warned, would amount to a betrayal of the peace and unity Nigerians seek.
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