A public-interest legal advocacy group, The Reality Ministry of Truth, Law and Justice (TRM), has written an open letter to the National Assembly, calling for the immediate creation of two special states exclusively for Fulani herdsmen and nomadic settlers as a permanent solution to Nigeria’s escalating farmer-herder crisis.
The letter signed by Sylvester Udemezue (udems), Proctor, TRM, a non-governmental, non-aligned, non-profit Public Interest Law Advocacy Group, and described as a “matter of national emergency,” was also copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In the strongly-worded document, Udemezue painted a grim picture of the herder-farmer conflict as “one of the most destabilizing factors threatening the peace, unity, and the very corporate existence of our beloved nation.” He cited widespread destruction, displacement, and loss of life across multiple states—Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Enugu, Ebonyi, Oyo, and others—where communities have been repeatedly attacked, livelihoods upended, and entire villages razed. “From Agatu in Benue to Igangan in Oyo, and Southern Kaduna to parts of Enugu, the stories are the same: bloodshed, ruins, and silence,” the letter stated.
Beyond the raw violence, Udemezue highlighted the deeper structural problem—the continued practice of open grazing in a modern era. He described the practice as archaic, unproductive, and a threat to national cohesion. “In this 21st century, open grazing is a relic of the pre-industrial age. It has outlived its usefulness and now serves as a trigger for national disintegration,” he warned, contrasting Nigeria’s outdated model with the successes of countries like Botswana, South Africa, Brazil, and India, which have adopted modern, organized systems of livestock management.
Significantly, the letter addressed the complex identity and governance challenges posed by Fulani herdsmen, especially those without fixed states of origin or clear legal status. Udemezue argued that some violent actors and terrorist groups exploit this ambiguity to masquerade as herdsmen while perpetrating criminal acts. “The tragedy is not just that terrorists use cattle routes; it is that we allow this to continue in the name of tradition,” he wrote, citing examples of coordinated attacks across the North and South that have been linked to armed bandits posing as herders.
To address what he described as a “herder-farmer-terrorist triad,” Udemezue offered a bold solution: the creation of two special states or designated autonomous zones in Nigeria’s North East or North West. These would serve as permanent settlements for Fulani herdsmen and other nomadic livestock farmers lacking a defined state of origin. “This proposal is not a political weapon or a tribalist scheme,” he clarified, “but a non-ethnic, non-discriminatory national strategy for sustainable peace and economic transformation.”
According to the letter, these special states would be equipped with modern infrastructure—ranches, irrigation systems, schools, health facilities, and security frameworks—designed to integrate nomadic communities into a settled, productive economy. “We must help herdsmen transition from roaming to, ranching, from conflict to cooperation,” Udemezue said.
He listed a broad range of anticipated benefits, from enhanced national security and economic growth to improved inter-ethnic relations and international credibility. “The world will take Nigeria more seriously when we demonstrate foresight in solving complex, protracted domestic challenges,” he added, framing the proposal as a counter-insurgency measure as much as a socio-economic reform.
In his concluding remarks, Udemezue did not mince words: “Let us not wait for the next massacre, the next reprisal attack, or the next international embarrassment.” He urged the Senate and House of Representatives to immediately initiate constitutional and legislative frameworks for the creation of the proposed states, outlaw open grazing, and reallocate federal resources toward sustainable pastoral reform.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which affirms that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, Udemezue concluded with a stark warning: “While we may postpone confronting this crisis, we cannot escape the consequences of ignoring it. The signs of collapse are already present and worsening. Let this be the turning point.”
With this letter, The Reality Ministry of Truth, Law and Justice has placed a critical proposal on the table—one that demands not only legislative action but also a national reckoning on how to finally resolve one of the country’s most enduring and deadly conflicts.
