According to an interview with The Sun on Friday, October 3, 2025, 79-year-old veteran journalist Alhaji Tajudeen A. Tijjani has debunked the popular belief that Fulani herders own the cattle seen across Nigeria’s highways, insisting that the real owners are wealthy elites.
Tijjani explained that while Fulani people are traditionally known for cattle rearing, most of them today only serve as caretakers. “Don’t be deceived: those herds of cows you see on the roads today don’t belong to the ordinary Fulani man anymore. Most Fulani are now just herders working for the rich. Wealthy elites are the real owners of those cows,” he said.
The veteran journalist stressed that the misconception has fueled tensions between herders and farming communities, as many Nigerians assume the herders are fighting for their own economic survival. In reality, he argued, they are often defending the interests of powerful individuals who own the cattle.
According to Tijjani, this reality complicates Nigeria’s security and agricultural challenges, since the violence associated with herder-farmer clashes is tied more to elite interests than to ordinary pastoral livelihoods.
He concluded that resolving the crisis requires honesty about the structure of cattle ownership in Nigeria and the influence of the wealthy in perpetuating the system. See, More, Here>>>
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