International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS), Vol.2 No.1 March, 2019; p.g. 29 - 45 29 HERDSMEN TERRORISM AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL ORDER AND DEVELOPMENT EKE C. CHINWOKWU (Ph.D) Department of Sociology, Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria E-Mail – eke.chinwokwu@gmail.com Phone: +2348033276402 Abstract This paper interrogates the nexus between herdsmen terrorism and criminal justice and its implications for social order and development in Nigeria. Never in the history of Nigeria, inclusive of the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967-1970 has Nigeria been greatly polarized with intense passion in both religious and ethno-cultural lines as currently experienced and expressed due to the persistent terror attacks of herdsmen militia. Political elites have couched on the situation of the day to fan embers of divide and rule or divide and win, not only to escalate the crisis but to continue their political dominance at the detriment of the masses. Efforts of government to contain the situation received condemnation as body language of government seemed antitheses to their avowed statutory role. The paper believes that the terrorist attacks of herdsmen militia across the country is astronomically worse than Boko Haram insurgency with great potential of upsetting the geographical landscape of the Nigerian state if drastic countermeasures are not put in place. Stakeholders’ summit is imperative to solving the menace, backed by legal framework regulating movement of herders. The paper made use of content analysis of extant literature on terrorism, insurgency, herdsmen/farmers conflict and newspaper reviews in its research methodology. Keywords: Herdsmen militia, Terrorism, Social Order, Criminal Justice, Development Introduction Statement of Problem In the last two decades, Nigeria has faced various forms of violent attacks and threats of violence ranging from Niger Delta militias, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Boko Haram and other violent extremisms. However, in all the cases, government has taken firm stand and legislative decisions to curb the menace of some of these violent activities. But in the case of herdsmen militia terrorist attacks across the country, government seems incapacitated, overwhelmed and lack of concern for the magnitude of deaths caused by their attacks instead according to Bolashodun, (2018 n.p), “The only thing worse than the tragedies that we have witnessed over the years – including the act of madness in Plateau State – is government making excuses for the killers”. This is in spite of brazen evidence that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautol Hore Association of Nigeria (MAKHAN) under whose watch these terrorist attacks have been carried out, openly claim ownership and boost of these violent attacks and went on to issue fresh violent threats of terrorism as if government and the criminal justice system are within their control and authority in disregard to the implications of these killings on social order and development in Nigeria. More so, the least government has done is to make false claims that the perpetrators of these crimes will face justice, yet none of the perpetrators have been prosecuted if arrested or convicted instead the same government arrested five people (Christians) alleged to have killed a herdsman and instantly without wasting time Justice Abdul-Azeez Waari of Yola High Court on June 13, 2018 in Adamawa State sentenced them to death by hanging (Hammaugabdo, 2018; Umar, 2018; Ekong, 2018). What kind of