Latent Causes and Magnitude of Farmers-Herder Agricultural Resource Conflicts that has Formed the New Wave of Conflict in Nigeria

Abstract

The research paper analysed the fine causes of farmer herder conflicts in Nigeria and also examined the magnitude of the conflict in terms of its evolution from an agricultural resource conflict to a less definable crisis that threatens to tear down the fabric of national unity. Continual misconceptions and misinterpretations of causes and motives of the conflict project further the polarized nature of Nigerian inter-ethnic interactions and the gradual diminishing of national identity. Greater incidence and intensity of the farmer-herder conflict has given rise to more violent herders and a tribal militia movement seeking to match the aggression. Analysts have expressed fear of these conflicts spiralling into a complex civil war and the need for the government to grab a hold of the conflicts for the sake of the parties involved. A total of 384 farmers and herders from conflict prone areas have been used for this study. The results and transcripts of the FGD were collated and summarised, they formed the substance of the tables developed. The key objective of the study is to arrive at some of the less empirical but silently impactful causes and magnitude of the farmer-herder conflicts which has been declared the deadliest conflict form in Nigeria. Developing a long-term, far-reaching and all-inclusive framework for the mutually beneficial use of land resources by all factions embroiled in this conflict is a first step to resolving the conflicts has been recommended.