Renewed Fulani Jihad and the extension of Fulani Caliphate to Benue. Biafra is the target

Renewed Fulani Jihad and the extension of Fulani Caliphate to Benue. Biafra is the target

Between 1804–1808, the Fulanis led by Usman dan Fodio launched a military expedition, known as Fulani Jihad on many Hausa States across the present-day Nigeria and Cameroon.

At the decline of the Kanem-Bornu Empire the mid-1700s, many independent Hausa States/kingdoms, with Gobir and Zamfara being the most prominent emerged. The war began when Usman dan Fodio, a prominent Islamic scholar and teacher, was exiled from Gobir by the king Yunfa, one of his former students. 

Usman dan Fodio subsequently, assembled a Fulani army to lead in jihad against the Hausa kingdoms. The forces of Usman dan Fodio slowly took over more and more of the Hausa kingdoms, finally capturing Gobir in 1808 and executing King Yunfa. This defeat ultimately led to the creation of the Sokoto Caliphate, headed by Usman dan Fodio, which became one of the largest states in Africa in the 1800s.

The Sokoto Caliphate has continued to rule Nigeria to the present under the guise of Northern Oligarchy, established by Ahmadu Bello, when the British colonialist handed power over to them in 1960. The oligarchy has controlled the government through its soldiers in the Nigerian Military, who ruled Nigeria for decades as well as to civilian regimes who are entirely subservient to the military warlords (dictators), whose powers emanates from the oligarchy.

The ultimate aim of the Northern Oligarchy is complete and total control of every part of Nigeria ("dipping of the Koran into the Atlantic Ocean"). The Caliphate, which conquered prominent Yoruba towns such as Ilorin, however failed to extend their control and faith to Biafra in the first jihad. However, they are not relenting as they have continued to make attempts to invade Biafra.

This is the driving force of the current invasion of Benue villages by Fulani soldiers. The Fulanis are not only plotting to takeover fertile Benue towns and villages, but to establish a military base from which attacks can be launched at Biafra. Current attacks in Benue are being launched from neighbouring Nasarawa State. By extension, when Benue finally capitulates to the Fulani forces, Enugu will be the first Biafra state that will be attacked. Needless to say that attacks on other states will follow.

The renewed Fulani jihad is a war of total conquest. Recently the paramount ruler of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Chief Daniel Abomtse, alleged that the Tor Tiv, Dr Alfred Torkula, has been sacked from his palace by Fulani insurgents. The monarch made the disclosure  at his Makurdi Government House Lodge, when he received the newly elected leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue State Council, who paid him courtesy visit. The Tor Tiv is from Guma LGA, one of the worst affected councils in the state by the Fulani herdsmen insurgency, where his family compound was razed last year.

According to Chief Abomtse,  “As I speak with you, Fulani insurgents has taken over the village of Tor Tiv. His Royal Majesty, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula, can no longer attend burial and other functions in his community. They walk freely with guns and all I know is that the invasion is a conspiracy against Tiv people and Benue community.

“These insurgents, who disguise as herders, confiscate everything belonging to our people; and if nothing urgently is done, it therefore means that Benue State, and by implication, Nigeria, is sitting on a keg of gun powder due to our strategic location.”

The strategic position Abomtse alluded to was the fact that from Benue, the Fulanis will attack Biafra.

Abomtse added that nine districts in his domain, were currently under the control of the insurgents, whom he argued were not “ordinary” nomads: “These are trained snipers; they go around with sophisticated weapons and what we notice is that they are not the ordinary nomads we know.

“We are also of the opinion that the Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, be made to answer questions as the Chief Security Officer of the state where these gunmen come into Benue.”

Soon after Chief Abomtse raised this alarm, another Benue village Egba in Agatu Local Government Area was attacked by Fulani soldiers. Up to 100 persons were feared killed in the attack, which saw several houses razed.  A villager, who escaped from the community, told newsmen that the Fu­lani soldiers attacked the village at about 5am on Sunday. 

About nine local government areas of Benue State came under attack of Fulani herdsmen last year with hun­dreds of persons killed while thousands were displaced. A daring attack was also launched at the governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswan, when he went to inspect damages rendered on his village by the Fulanis. 

Attack on Benue should serve as a warning shot to Biafrans to prepare to defend their land. The Fulanis are coming.