The impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups in Nigeria is insignificant compared to the continued atrocities and genocide of Christians caused by Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Whereas the global pandemic has aggravated violent global conflicts, which has posed new challenges for displaced peoples and disrupted the work of civil society organizations, the continuing genocide needs to be the focus and peace restored.
Nigeria needs to understand how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is crucial that they provide support to groups at the risk of genocide. The effects of COVID-19 on developing conflicts are continued risks for minorities and displaced peoples, most especially women and children. The Nigerian government must work simultaneously to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic but principally to the ongoing genocide.
INTRODUCTION
COVID-19 has brought more confusion and chaos to the volatile nation of Nigeria. For over ten years, this West African giant has experienced genocide on two fronts — Boko Haram jihadists and Fulani militants. Both are Muslim extremists and both aim to remove specific populations that interfere with their plans, predominately from minority populations such as Christians. The killing of innocents in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, who are mainly Christian indigenes, is evidence that the violence has met the definitional criteria for “genocide”.
Boko Haram declared “total jihad” in 2009 and has been causing fear and destruction ever since[1], but the Fulani militants have increased their deadly attacks for the past twenty years and threaten the lives and livelihoods of rural Christians. These acts of violence are done deliberately, with the intent of killing head of households and/or displacing them from their traditional lands. The overall intention of both Boko Haram and the Fulani militants is to conquer Christians and control the land.
The Nigerian House of Representatives raised the concern of genocide in July 2018. Lawmakers insisted that President Buhari do more than just recite verbal condemnation of the attacks and, “take decisive and practical steps to give effect to Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution as amended”[2], which states, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” Hon. Idris Abdullahi Wase (Plateau APC) claimed he knew specific politicians who sponsor the killings, adding that he had “documentary evidence to support his position”.[3] Similarly, Dr Obadiah Mailafia created a significant disturbance when he claimed that he had spoken to former Boko Haram leaders and they, too, had names of politicians who are sponsoring them. Yet, like other important issues and vital concerns, nothing was pursued and government misdirection supervened any discovery of the truth.
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the inadequacies of many nations and world leaders, and Nigeria was not excluded. President Buhari was already failing to build a safe and flourishing Nigeria, but COVID-19 which could have been his uniting call to the nation in order to provide a healthy environment, while fighting the scourge of terrorism and jihad. He failed to adequately address COVID-19 and the conflict and genocide continued.
COVID-19 IN NIGERIA
COVID-19 was first documented inside Nigeria’s borders, when on February 27, 2020 an Italian businessman employed in Nigeria, had just returned from visiting Italy. After research, protocols, and consultations the Lagos State government eventually announced a total lockdown on March 26th. Other cities and states followed, confusing and irritating the population who didn’t believe this to be nothing more than a “rich-man’s disease” (because only those who could afford to travel got sick).
Since February there were concerns that the COVID-19 virus would devastate African nations. The immense populations of African cities, links with China and susceptibility to spreading viruses the pundits gave Africa no hope. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic did not devastate populations or uncontrollably spread as predicted, but many nations, like Nigeria, have taken an economic blow and have to endure an ongoing genocide. Adding insult to injury the recent EndSARS protests exposed several locations where relief supplies, meant for the hurting population, were hoarded and/or not distributed as expected[4].
The arrival of the coronavirus into Nigeria was inevitable but President Buhari and the Nigerian government remained uncertain on how to regulate procedures. President Buhari had been contacted by other global and African leaders to prepare for the worse possible scenario. He gave assurances that he would respond accordingly but Nigerians were already stressed with the faltering economy, rising unemployment and the continued killings. John Campbell rightly stated, “In Nigeria, as elsewhere in Africa (and the world, for that matter), there is often a large disconnect between what the federal government says in its press statements and what actually happens at the local level.”[5]
However, Nigeria has proved itself adequate to respond to infectious diseases, as they did with the 2014 Ebola epidemic. While nations like Liberia were unable to stop the vicious spread of Ebola, Nigeria was able to halt the threat with a quick and strict response. Most likely, since it was centered in the Lagos metropolis, where competent health workers and adequate facilities were available, they diagnosed, traced and treated Ebola patients effectively[6]. Instead of a tragic outbreak like Liberia where over 10,000 cases caused nearly 5,000 deaths, Nigeria had only 20 cases and just 8 deaths.
Yet, the case of COVID-19 there was a delay and distrust of the Federal Government. Compared to other West African nations, like Ghana, where they worked with international organizations and governments to map out incidence, tracing, testing, etc., Nigeria was slow in responding. Ghana with a population of just over 31 million was able to test nearly the same amount as Nigeria, who has a population of nearly 7 times of Ghana. Ghana tested over 512,000 people and only saw 47,641 cases and just 312 deaths, while Nigeria tested 595,283 people and has 61,630 cases with 1,125 deaths.[7]
2020 STATS — COVID-19
Month — CASES — DEATHS
March — 130 — 2
April — 1,597 — 49
May — 8,127 — 222
June — 15,278 — 300
July — 17,556 — 305
August — 11,176 — 135
September — 4,782 — 98
October — 2,983 — 14
TOTAL — 61,630[8] — 1,125[9]
COVID-19 & CONTINUING KILLINGS
Buhari gave the public assurances that it would control and contain COVID-19, but the public in the Middle-belt and the North were not concerned with the coronavirus as they were with Boko Haram and Fulani militants. 2019 ended with a series of killings in Borno State, but from January through February Fulani militants continued to kill rural Christians in Kaduna and Plateau States.
Despite public awareness, local networks said that police and other armed forces were slow in responding to Fulani militant attacks because they feared the unknown of COVID-19. From March through July killings by Boko Haram and Fulani militants reached almost 2,000 deaths, with a one-month high of over 610 deaths in June. Compared to COVID-19 deaths during the same time (March-July) of just 878 deaths.
Government Response to COVID-19 & Worsening Situation
The problems that government officials had to deal with is how to deal with the continuing crisis and dealing with COVID-19 (i.e. quarantine, testing, tracing, movement, etc.).[10] It was inevitable that there would be problems enacting a quarantine as reports of deaths at the hands of security forces who were trying to control those who violated stay-at-home orders.[11]
Prior to the pandemic hitting Nigeria, the economy had been failing with diminished oil revenue (needed for budget), rising unemployment, reduced agriculture and the general distrust of an incompetent government.
Especially agonizing for Christians in the Middle-belt and North was the continued atrocity incidence and increased deaths of citizens at the hands of Fulani Militants & Boko Haram. During the period between March 1, 2020 thru October 15, 2020 there were 2,400 deaths as a result of attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram. Since January 1 2020 thru October 15, 2020 thee were over 3,100 deaths and over 1,500 people have been kidnapped or abducted.
As COVID-19 took root into the Nigerian situation the ongoing genocide raged on. In fact, one could say that killings were the highest when the COVID-19 deaths were highest.
COVID-19 AND ONGOING GENOCIDE
Compounding the deaths related to Christian genocide and concerns of COVID-19 the issue of #EndSARS protests have propelled the Nigerian government into a deeper hole. These recent protests are as a result of continued government distrust, inability and heavy-handed response.
(Stats [12] [13])
Despite a low incidence and death rate of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Christians are still concerned for their lives. President Buhari and the Nigerian leaders have failed to guarantee the ability to safely work in their rural communities and to safely exist. Nigerians are discontent and frustrated that there are attacks and killings.
Victims
Ethnicity is paramount to Nigerians because language, culture and religion are defined by it. Through the years, as Christianity spread it accepted and promoted ethnicity by incorporating traditional practices and language, even translating the Bible into local languages. As such, there is a definite ethno-religious component to the killings by Fulani militants.[14]
Those who say the conflict is due to climate change or land rights/access should recognize that multiple attempts for peace and resolution have been made for many years. In 1965, the Grazing Reserve System was created by the Northern region government in order to create hundreds of grazing reserves and to provide water and vaccinations while the herdsmen paid government taxes. [15] It was never fully implemented because the discovery of oil and ensuing exploration eventually neglected the grazing reserve initiatives and, similarly, the agricultural sector.
UN GENOCIDE CONVENTION DEFINITION
NIGERIAN VICTIMS: INCIDENTS BY ACTOR “FULANI MILITANTS”
Killing members of the group
Fulani militants strategically kill in several states but notably: Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, and Taraba. Within these States’ attacks to ethnic groups who are Christian: Adara, Irigwe, Berom, Tiv, Idoma, Kuteb, Jukun, etc.
Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
Majority of incidents that involved Fulani militants either resulted in death or injured victims. Often victims suffer injuries that prevent them from returning to farm.
Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
- Homes attacked and destroyed, displacing populations, reduce planting and harvesting seasons, limit educational opportunities for children, etc.
- Grain storages destroyed, removing sustenance, seed for planting and grain for income or barter.
- Farms are abandoned because Fulani occupy them with armed men and herds.
Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
- Men who are head of household are killed, removes fathers, spouses, guardians, income-earners, etc.
- Women are killed, removing matriarchy, reproductivity, nurturer, mentor, etc.
- Pregnant women are killed.
Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
No child slavery, or forced conversions. Yet, children are displaced, forced to relocate away from family ancestral lands.
Boko Haram
In Northeast Nigeria, the Islamist jihadist Boko Haram has spread across West Africa, and “has killed more people than Islamic State killed in Iraq and Syria combined”[16]. Boko Haram/lSWAP (Islamic State in West African Province, which separated from Boko Haram), along with Fulani militants, are conducting a genocidal slaughter in Nigeria. President Buhari was elected in 2015 and since that time there have been almost 23,000 deaths related to Boko Haram incidents.
Since January 1, 2020, the Nigeria Security Tracker reports that there have been over 2,100 deaths as a result of Boko Haram related incidents[17]. Culminating in a brutal attack on June 9, 2020 when over 80 people were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Borno State.[18] Millions remain displaced in northern Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram attacks.
Fulani Militants
We know Fulani militants are being led by individuals who, either by their silence or by their veiled pronouncements, are advancing the genocidal slaughter. It is important to state we are not condemning the entire Fulani population, as we know there are Fulani who prefer peace and some who are Christians. Fulani themselves have told us there exists a militant faction, but Fulani leaders are unwilling to share on who these militants are and whose orders they follow.
DEATHS BY ACTOR = FULANI MILITANTS
VICTIMS = CHRISTIAN POPULATION STATES
VICTIMS = BENUE, KADUNA, PLATEAU, TARABA (NIGERIA)
2010–14: 5,890
2015–17: 3,452
2018: 2,484
2019: 1,253
TOTAL: 2000–19: 14,087
(Stats / Data[19])
CONCLUSION
The crime of genocide is proven by “patterns and examples of discrimination against minority religious or belief communities”. Genocide is one of the greatest crimes under international law and it is imperative to show how Christian ethnic minority groups are being slaughtered in a genocidal manner.
In a 2018 visit to the White House, President Buhari tried to explain to President Trump, “The problem of cattle herders is a very long historical problem. Before now, cattle herders were known to carry sticks and machetes… but these ones are carrying AK-47s.” The world responded, “If this is the case, the question is then, what the Nigerian government is doing to resolve the ongoing conflict between Fulani herdsmen and Christian farmers?”[20] Adding that there is a requirement of Buhari to, “investigate the crimes and prosecute the perpetrators; investigate the supply chain of AK-47s; consider the potential religious component to the conflict; and assist all victims of the conflict”.[21]
Nigeria is experiencing a genocide that needs to be recognized and treated with urgency. EndSARS protests and COVID-19 are a serious concern, but they should not be a distraction to the urgency of stopping the genocide meted out by Boko Haram and Fulani militants. We must hold the Nigerian government accountable and all the factions who have claimed responsibility for attacks and prosecute the perpetrators. If the Nigerian government is unable or unwilling to do so, the perpetrators must be held accountable to international law. Genocide is being perpetrated and there exists the need to protect the victims of these genocidal atrocities.
[1] “Boko Haram Resurrects, Declares Total Jihad,” Vanguard, August 14, 2009, http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/08/boko- haram-resurects-declares-total-jihad/
[2] https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/07/04/house-designates-plateau-killings-as-genocide/
[3] ibid
[4] https://observers.france24.com/en/20201027-nigeria-warehouse-looting-covid-aid
[5] Campbell, John https://www.cfr.org/blog/bayelsa-nigerian-government-response-COVID-19-falls-short-promises
[6] Courage, Katherine Harmon, October 18, 2014 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-did-nigeria-quash-its-ebola-outbreak-so-quickly/ accessed on October 21, 2020.
[7] https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ accessed on October 21, 2020.
[8] https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/state/
[9] ibid
[10] There were reports that the Plateau State Governor used fumigation as a way to show that he was taking care of the coronavirus — allegations were raised that he used an old chemical used for mosquito borne diseases. https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/331411/nigeria-authorities-lock-down-plateau-state-until-april-15-due-to-covid-19-update-7
[11] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52317196
[12] https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/state/
[13] https://silentslaughternigeria.com/calendar.php
[14] https://www.accord.org.za/ajcr-issues/ethnic-religious-crises-nigeria/
[15] Oshita O. Oshita, (editor), Internal Security Management in Nigeria: Perspectives, Challenges and Lessons (Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore 2019), 105
[17] Boko Haram and State Actors are combined for the category “Boko Haram, State Actor,” which corresponds to incidents where there was a clash. https://www.cfr.org/nigeria/nigeria-security-tracker/p29483 — accessed October 20, 2020
[18] https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/10/africa/boko-haram-faduma-attack/index.html
[19] Sources don’t reflect the full extent of Nigeria’s situation, Actors as “Fulani militants” can be misrepresented — due to incidents being reported as “herders vs farmers”, “pastoralists”, “unidentified” or “sectarian”, but we have been able to compile and present our version at https://iconhelp.org/resources/news/
[21] ibid
