Towards Stemming the Tide of Farmers-Herders’ Conflicts in Nigeria: Lessons from the Marial Bai Agreement on Cattle Seasonal Movement in South Sudan

Abstract

The farmers-herders’ conflicts have remained a deadly monster in Nigeria due to inappropriate approaches that tend to neglect the involvements of some critical stakeholders in reaching a comprehensive agreement that will be binding on all. This paper, therefore, examined the provisions of the Marial Bai Agreement on cattle seasonal movement in South Sudan, which have contributed  significantly to the reduction of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in South Sudan, and how Nigeria could benefit from the provisions of the agreement in tackling its own security challenges occasioned by the feuds between pastoralists and farmers. The study relied on secondary method of data collection drawn from textbooks, articles, journals and the internet. The data were qualitatively and descriptively analysed. Also, the eco-violence theory was adopted as a framework to explain the dominant factor that has always triggered the farmers-herders’ conflicts in the country. In all, the paper argued that the farmers-herders’ conflicts in Nigeria could be effectively addressed if Nigeria could borrow a leaf out of the Marial Bai Agreement in South Sudan. This is imperative because since the signing of the Agreement in 2016, the number of farms destroyed by herdsmen had not only reduced from 60 to 20 between 2016 and 2017 respectively but had also helped in cutting down the use of arms by herdsmen, thereby reducing the incidents of conflicts in the region. This approach, if adopted, will serve as an alternative to ranching, which is the ideal system of cattle breeding in modern times, but cannot be met immediately due to financial and time constraints. In order to do this effectively, the paper recommended that: The Nigerian Government should research and consult widely with major stakeholders to get their buy- ins before embarking on the project; Local authorities and community-based institutions should be allowed to own and drive the process just like it’s done in South Sudan; Mobile courts should be set up to try offenders as soon as the provisions of the agreement are breached; and victims should be compensated immediately.