The latest is the killing of a chief, his son and four other villagers on 12th January 2023. The murder of Chief Mathias Chu Ewei, chief of Munkep, alongside five others was reportedly carried out in at Munkep, a border location in Esu, adjacent to Nigeria. Locals say Fulani herdsmen from Nigeria invaded Munkep, firing the six persons to dead.
Photo: Late Chief Ewei Chu Mathias
Preceding weeks in border localities of Esu, notably the towns of Munkep, Munka and Gayama have recorded fighting between Fulani graziers and Esu natives, local sources say. The instability has displaced hundreds of people from the areas. Witnesses of the catastrophy put the dead toll of people from Esu at 12. Casualties and deaths have also been recorded on the side of Fulani men, though the number is unknown.
“Esu hosts about one hundred IDPs from Gayama, Munkep and Munka due to the attacks there. Hundreds of others have fled to other areas” Meh Peter, Quarter head of Donghobuoh, a neighborhood in Esu, told Cameroon Infotrend.
The Cause of Conflict
The incident began by November 2022, when nomadic Fulani herdsmen from Nigeria reportedly grazed cattle on farmland at Gayama. The owner of the farmland hit back, shooting two herders to death. This provoked counter attack from Fulani herders who rather went on an offensive operation, with sporadic wanton killing on the Esu community living at the borders.
People living at peripheral localities of Esu, where farmer/grazier clashes are common have it that, the problem dates back to decades. Nfua Franklin, an inhabitant at Gayama is a living witness. “I have been in Gayama for more than thirty years. The problem didn’t start today. If you go to the administration, it is recorded in their books. The administration has gone there more than five times for farmer/grazier issues”
While problems between farmers and graziers occur frequently, experts contend that farmer grazier conflicts can be avoided through concessions.
Call to restore Calm on Conflicting parties
Victims of the killing on either sides have been wailing and groaning, calling for intervention from leaders. Complains were tabled by elites alongside members of Esu Cultural and Development Association -ECUDA to administrative leaders of Menchum. The response was the organisation of a security meeting, which took place at the Esu palace esplanade on January 14th, 2023, chaired by the Senior Divisional Officer of Menchum, Abdoullahi Aliou. At the meeting, stakeholders arrived some resolutions including; creation of a military base along the border areas of Munkep, Gayama and Munka, form a farmer grazier commission made up of Fulani and natives of Esu and identify and report cases of assault.
After presiding the security meeting, the SDO assured the community that he would table the problems and resolutions to hierachy for further intervention.
Mr Abdoullahi Aliou extended a hand of solidarity, handing 50, 000 FCFA to victims in Esu affected by the conflict.
On the side of Nigeria, a conflict assessment meeting was held on January 4, by Fulani men in Kashibila, a village at the border line of Nigeria. Videos of the meeting shows Nigerian Fulani graziers naming a sub chief on the side of Esu for allowing them graze on land in Esu after collecting grazing fee. The said chief however denies, saying it is an allegation.
With the conflict resolution meetings held, villagers are hopeful that implementing agreed resolutions would put an end to wailing.
Context of Conflict
Esu is located in Fungom Subdivision, Menchum Division of Cameroon’s North-west Region, it has vast grassland that extends to the borders with Nigeria. The grassland which favours domestication of livestock and farming is the subject of conflict.
Natives of Esu who are predominantly farmers cohabit with Fulani who are predominantly cattle rarers. Both farmers and graziers rely on land for livelihood, thus squabbles occur too often. People of Esu often report of farmer/breeder disputes from two fronts: with Fulani resident on Esu soil who carryout grazing and with Fulani living at the borders of neighbouring Nigeria who also keep cattle for livestock.
By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum
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