Farmers-Armed Herdsmen Conflict in Nigeria: Interrogating the Crisis in Selected South-West States (2011 - 2021
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2022-12
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Lead City University
Abstract
The stiff competitions for limited resources have often times led to violent herdsmen-farmers conflict in South-West States in Nigeria, resulting in aggravated crisis in kidnapping, banditry, cow rustling, rapping, murder and population displacement, using small and light weapons (SALW). This study takes a look at the categorization of the concept of armed headsmen in relation to farmer-herder as it affects security architectures in South-West Nigeria. The study adopted the use of three theories; the tragedy of the common theory, the frustration-aggression theory and Fragile State Theory in justifying the nature and the pattern of aggressions arising from the relationships between the farmers-herdsmen in the region. The lacuna in the three theories made the researcher to come up with his theory “the interventionist theory” as adopted for the conduct of the study. The researcher adopted the use of qualitative approach to data gathering and analysis with the use of primary sources using key informant interview (KII) in interrogating identified critical stakeholders; the State, the Groups i.e. the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), All Farmer’s Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the host communities where the conflicts occurred. Also, the use of secondary sources like books, journals, articles, commission reports, newspapers, and online publications were empirically analyzed. The outcome of the study showed that the conflict has resulted in several thousands of deaths and wanton destructions of properties. The study concluded by explaining that the series of violent clashes could have been nipped in the bud if necessary agencies have done the needful as so much distrust, socio-economic and security breaches were created. The study, however, made several recommendations like the formulation of workable legislation devoid of political jingoism, establishment and implementation of the livestock transformation plan of Federal/State Government, use of information and communication infrastructures among others.
Keywords: Armed groups, Security, Extremists, Conflict and Herder.
Word Count: 298
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Kate Turabian