The Third Coming of the Fulani and its Security Implications for Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The modern Southwest region of Nigeria, particularly during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, was formerly a playground for bandit Fulanis and killer Fulani herdsmen, who are notorious for their insatiable thirst for violence. This study, however, applied a historical lens to explain why Fulanis of dubious character are drawn to the present-day Southwest region of Nigeria. This work adheres to the argument of Ikime (2018), who argued that a thorough understanding of the past is necessary for mastering the present. In light of this context, this study took a historical perspective on the Third Coming of the Fulanis to the Yoruba region of Nigeria. Fulani and Yoruba people coexisted in Ilorin, Kwara State, until Nigeria's official establishment in 1960. This research indicates that the Fulani people moved to the southwestern part of Nigeria on three consecutive occasions. The First Coming was characterized by nomadic people who were less concerned with Islamic values; the Second Coming embodied rigid Islamic values comparable to those of Uthman Dan Fodio; and the Third Coming is characterised by a disregard for human lives in host communities, endangering the Yoruba/Fulani identity in the Southwest as the host community has developed a fear of the Yoruba-Fulani as a result of the bandit Fulanis' questionable conduct. In this study, analytical methods like critical thinking and descriptive-analytical analysis were employed within the premise of primordialism and instrumentalism theories of ethnic conflicts. The majority of the information was obtained from internet sources such as peer-reviewed academic journals, news websites, and study reports. The research revealed that identifying and recognising Yoruba-Fulanis in the Southwest will help minimise ethnic stereotyping and aid in tracking down the troublesome alien Fulani who are a threat to the region's stability. If the Yoruba-Fulani were to be forcibly expelled from the Yoruba region of Nigeria, the lives of a significant number of Yorubas living in Fulani communities in the northern region would be radically impacted.