Herders-Farmers Conflict and the Search for Peace in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Herders-farmers conflict has become a constant and increasing occurrence over the past decades, making it a major threat to orderliness and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. In Northern Nigeria where the conflict has been dominant, Benue State remains one of the most hard-hit where bloody clashes between Fulani armed herdsmen and farmers over grazing lands have led to the killing of people and razing down of houses as well as food storage facilities. Therefore, this study investigates the causes, effects, and government’s role in addressing the farmers-herdsmen conflict and identified gaps in government’s responses to the crisis in Benue State, Nigeria. Relying on primary and secondary data, the study found that, land dispute over grazing right and farming, climate change which obstructed grazing routes as well as changes in livestock and cropping systems, were among the causes of herders-farmers conflict in Benue State. The study also revealed the effects of herders-farmers conflict, which include increasing loss of lives and property, displacement of persons, food insecurity and high cost of food. Thus, the study advocates the need for the government to address issues of land disputes in the state by initiating peace building efforts, ensures pro-active response by improving security intelligence gathering techniques, just like the need for bottom-up approach, which will include involvement of local and traditional leaders in the area.