By
Obododimma Oha
“Fulani herdsmen,” then,
“Terrorists,” then,
“Communities at war,” then,
“Insurgents,” then,
“Bandits,” then ….
Who is really fooling who?
A context that amazes me with the shift of the very serious issue of life and death to a semantic display is the courtroom. Lawyers try to show off their power of semantics by leaving the matter at stake to quarrel over the meanings of some words. In addition, some even try to confuse and bamboozle others with their power of rhetoric. Impression management. It is in such a context that language can be misrepresented. It is constructed, sadly, as a vehicle of deception.
Similarly, one is watching the Nigerian security scene and how language has been used to deceive. Those in power, whom George Orwell in “Politics and the English Language,” configures as dishing out words to mislead the population, have been very busy baking terms for the gullible citizens. Over time, insecurity has mounted in the country and there have been accusations and counter-accusations. Specifically, some terms have featured on this public discourse, which seems to suggest citizens mean just little and being toyed with.
This essay draws attention to this very fatal semantic game, analyzing some terms to show the shifts and continuation of war through a linguistic means.
At the beginning is “Fulani” or “Fulani herdsmen.” Although it has been explained in some quarters that the identity of Fulani is misrepresented and suffering in this debate, the Fulani ethnic group being seen as peaceful people, a group of very violent people related to the Fulani has emerged over time, carry AK-47 rifles and massacring populations accused of stealing their cattle or resisting their pastoral locations and relocations or grazing of their cattle. The global terrorist index identifies the group as being very dangerous and truly terrorist in operation.
So, the term “Fulani herdsmen” stands for terrorism and killing of innocent citizens in Nigeria. Granted that criminals could exploit this and hide under it to commit crimes, hoping the Fulani herdsmen could carry the blame. In reality, however, there have been cases of torture, abduction, robbery, etc carried out by Fulani herdsmen. In that case, it is really not an attempt to just blemish the Fulani for getting into power.
Further, the Fulani cannot be equated with the Jewish rebels who were called “terrorists” in the struggle with the Romans in power. The term “terrorist” is clear and any group that carries out an act in that province has collected the terrible image. That terrible image cannot be laundered through funny shifts to something considered more euphemistic and better.
This concern with the euphemistic led to the re-imagining of the attacks, especially in Benue and Plateau States as a case of "communities at war." Which neighbouring communities were fighting? Pastoralists and farmers?A de laff o! There is something laughable about lies. One even tells another lie to cover up a lie. From narrative to narrative. Somebody has to keep looking for a better and a more secure image. But truth is the only secure one. When some people descend on a farming community, slaughter everyone in the darkness of the night, that is not two neighbouring communities at war. It is terrorism carried out by an invader. That is the blunt truth.
Then, the shift to the terrorists being called "insurgents." Really? Is somebody trying to equate Niger Delta insurgency with this terrorism? Which insurgency? Are they wrestling with the state? Over what? And are, therefore, slaughtering innocent citizens! The term "insurgent" is just inappropriate. Totally inappropriate. Why not shift to "bandits" as you have chosen. Because, after the killing and burning, then, some looting. They must be "bandits"!
Moreover, these "bandits" do abduct and ask for ransom money. They are enriched and could buy more guns to continue their "banditry". Calling them "bandits" helps in shutting off culpability in fighting them. They are "bandits" and we are not. That also prevents the "criminalisation" of an ethnic group that could rear its cattle following the cattle routes in London and Washington. Bandits. Bandits harassing Nigeria like COVID-19.
You see, while these and other slippery semantic shifts are occurring, people are dying. It is heartless to leave them to die or to try to justify making them die.
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