Internal Insecurity and National Development in Nigeria: Problematizing Herdsmen and Farmers’ Conflicts in Anambra State

Abstract

Internal security challenges in Nigeria, particularly herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts, have worsened over time. In Anambra state, clashes by the two groups have equally persisted. The key concern of this study was on the effect of this challenge on national development in Nigeria. In essence, the objective of this study was to examine how herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have affected national development in Nigeria. To achieve the objective of this study, the following hypothesis was posed: Herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have not supported national development in Nigeria. Anchored on the Eco-Violence Theory and the Deprivation, Frustration and Aggression Theory as the frameworks for analysis, the study adopted descriptive survey design and Questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Analysis of data was quantitatively carried out. Among other things, the study found out that herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have some negative consequences which include loss of lives, farmlands, cattle and property; worsened level of poverty and threat to jobs. It also found out that Nigeria cannot achieve national development in the face of the recurring herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state as the impacts affect the rest of the country. In view of the findings, the study recommended the need for the state government to devise strategies for effective implementation of its Cattle and Other Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2021. It equally recommended Federal Government’s proactive intervention in ending the herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in the state.