Herdsmen in Gen 47:1-12 and the Lesson for Nigeria

Abstract

Most Fulani people are nomadic in nature tending groups of animals such as herds and flocks. They carry them from place to place for grazing, but their sudden attitude towards original occupants of those places they pasture their animals makes them notorious invaders.Today Fulani herdsmen are threat to human life as well as cause of violence and disunity in Nigerianand among Nigerians. The result of their activities include the following menace:loss of human life, sexual harassment of human life, acquiring of weapons, reduction in quality of social relationship, reduction of social support and high cases of rape, reduction in output and income of farmers/nomads, loss of produce in storage, displacement of farmers, scarcity of agricultural products, loss of house and properties and infrastructural damages.Being an academic research, the investigator adopts narrative method of biblical exegesis for thorough analysis and application of the text of study (Gen 47:1-12).This Old Testament text unveils that during the time of the patriarchs as aliens in Egypt, they neither invaded a land nor was causeof chaos and loss of lives and properties in the land where they resided. The researcher intends to apply the text in the context of Nigerian situation in order to proffer solution and curb the influx and destructive invasion of Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.

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