Authors retain the copyright without restrictions for their published content in this journal. HSSR is a SHERPA ROMEO Green Journal.
Publishing License
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of
CONFLICTS AND THE RETROGRESSION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF HERDERS-FARMERS’ CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA
Corresponding Author(s) : Agaptus Nwozor
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2020): January
Abstract
Purpose: The study draws attention to the negative impacts that the conflicts between Fulani herders and farmers have had on Nigeria’s national development, especially on its quest to achieve food security while repositioning agriculture as a major player in the economy. It further draws attention to the serious danger these conflicts pose to the country’s socio-economic and political sustainability. The study attempts to illuminate the disconnect between these conflicts and the actualization of the twin goals of “no poverty†and “zero hunger†as encapsulated in the Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2.
Methodology: This study generated both primary and secondary data to evaluate the socio-economic and political implications of the herders-farmers conflicts in Nigeria. While the primary data were generated through the instrumentality of key informant interviews (KIIs), the secondary data were obtained from archival materials and other published works.
Main findings: The study found that herders-farmers conflicts have inflicted serious costs on the Nigerian economy in terms of loss of resources and human lives. It also found that these conflicts have jeopardized the prospects of meeting the global goals of poverty eradication and zero hunger. The study equally found that the government has no specific set of strategies to contain the conflicts and that its equivocation and unwillingness to prosecute the architects and perpetrators of the conflicts has emboldened them.
Social Implications: The herders-farmers conflicts have had serious impacts on the people. These impacts include human fatalities, social dislocations, especially displacement and disruption of people’s livelihood patterns and the exacerbation of poverty.
Originality/Novelty: The originality of the study derives from its successful establishment of wider links between the Fulani herders-farmers conflicts and the prospects of the country derailing in repositioning the agricultural sector and meeting the global goals of poverty reduction and food security.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Author Contributions
- The study was carried out with contributions from all the authors. Specific contributions are as follows: KA designed the study and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AN refined the title, managed data from respondents and wrote the final version of the manuscript. JSO reviewed and restructured the first draft, incorporated more literature and data. All the authors proofread and approved the final manuscript.
- References
- Adamu, A & Ben, A. (2017). Nigeria: Benue State under the shadow of “herdsmen terrorism†(2014 – 2016). World Watch Research. Retrieved from https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Nigeria-Benue-State-2017-WWR.pdf
- Adebayo, A. G. (1991). Of Man and Cattle: A Reconsideration of the Traditions of Origin of Pastoral Fulani of Nigeria. History in Africa, 18, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/3172050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3172050
- Adekola, O and J. Lamond (2018) ‘A media framing analysis of urban flooding in Nigeria: Current narratives and implications for policy’. Regional Environmental Change., 18(4). pp. 1145–1159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1253-y. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1253-y
- Adesina, A. (2012). Agricultural Transformation Agenda: Repositioning agriculture to drive Nigeria’s economy. Retrieved from https://queenscompany.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/2/5/38251671/agric_nigeria.pdf
- Ahmed-Gamgum W. A. (2018) Herdsmen and farmers’ conflict in Nigeria: Another dimension of insecurity. Journal of Public Administration and Social Welfare Research, 3(1), 35-62.
- Ajibefun, M. B. (2018). Social and Economic Effects of the menace of Fulani herdsmen crises in Nigeria. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 8(2), 133- 139. https://doi.org/10.2478/jesr-2018-0024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jesr-2018-0024
- Akinkuotu, E. (2016, May 26). Herdsmen recorded video of Enugu massacre – police. Punch. Retrieved from https://punchng.com/herdsmen-recorded-video-enugu-massacre-police/
- Akinnaso, N. (2018, March 13). Who are the cattle owners in Nigeria? Punch. Retrieved from https://punchng.com/who-are-the-cattle-owners-in-nigeria/
- Akinyetun, T. S. (2016). Staff to Gun: Fulani Herdsmen in Nigeria. Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 4(8), 38-44.
- Aliyu, A. A., and L. Amadu (2017) ‘Urbanization, cities, and health: The challenges to Nigeria - A review’. Annals of African Medicine. 16(4). pp. 149-158. https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_1_17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_1_17
- Asogwa, F. C. & Okafor, N. I. (2016). Herders-farmers conflict and national security in Nigeria. South East Journal of Political Science, 2(2), 22-37
- Bloch, R., S. Fox, J. Monroy, and A. Ojo (2015) Urbanisation and urban expansion in Nigeria. Urbanisation Research Nigeria (URN) Research Report. London: ICF International. Retrieved from http://urn.icfwebservices.com/Media/Default/Publications/URN%20Theme%20A%20Urbanisation%20Report%20FINAL.pdf (last accessed on 18 February 2019)
- Bonkat, L. (2008) Effects of Conflict Escalation: The Conflict in Langtang South Local Government Area, In Best S. G. (Ed.), Causes and conflicts in the southern zone of Plateau state, Nigeria, Centre for Management and Peace Studies, University of Jos, Nigeria.
- Campbell, J. (2018, December 20). The numbers behind sectarian violence in Nigeria. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/blog/numbers-behind-sectarian-violence-nigeria#main-content
- CBN (Central bank of Nigeria). (2018). Central Bank of Nigeria annual report, 2018. Abuja: CBN. Retrieved from https://www.cbn.gov.ng/Out/2019/RSD/2018%20AR%20KAMA1.pdf
- Dimelu, M. U., Salifu, E. D & Igbokwe,E. M. (2016). Resource use conflict in agrarian communities, management and challenges: A case of farmer-herdsmen conflict in Kogi State, Nigeria. Journal of Rural Studies, 46, 147-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.011
- Ducrotoy, M. J., Majekodunmi, A. O. , Shaw, A. P. M., Bagulo, H., Bertu, W. J., Gusi, A. M., Ocholi, R. & Welburn, S. C. (2018). Patterns of passage into protected areas: Drivers and outcomes of Fulani immigration, settlement and integration into the Kachia Grazing Reserve, northwest Nigeria. Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 8(1), 1-16. DOI 10.1186/s13570-017-0105-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-017-0105-1
- Egbuta, U. (2018). Understanding the herder-farmer conflict in Nigeria. Conflict Trends, 2018/3. Retrieved from https://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/understanding-the-herder-farmer-conflict-in-nigeria/
- FMARD (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). (2011). Agricultural transformation agenda: We will grow Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Retrieved from http://unaab.edu.ng/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Agricultural%20Transformation%20Blue%20Print.pdf
- Igata, F. (2016, April 30). Enugu: Blow-by-blow account of how herdsmen killed 46 natives. Vanguard. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/enugu-blow-blow-account-herdsmen-killed-46-natives/
- Ilo, U. J., Jonathan-Chaver, I & Adamolekun, Y. (2019, January 23). The deadliest conflict you’ve never heard of: Nigeria’s cattle herders and farmers wage a resource war. Foreign Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/nigeria/2019-01-23/deadliest-conflict-youve-never-heard
- Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). (2015). Global terrorism index 2015: Measuring and understanding the impact of terrorism. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2015%20Global%20Terrorism%20Index%20Report_0_0.pdf
- International Crisis Group (2017). Herders against farmers: Nigeria’s expanding deadly conflict. Africa Report No. 252. Retrieved from https://d2071andvip0wj.cloudfront.net/252-nigerias-spreading-herder-farmer-conflict.pdf
- Kwaja, C. M. A & Ademola-Adelehin, B. I. (2018) Responses to conflict between farmers and herders in the middle belt of Nigeria: Mapping past efforts and opportunities for violence prevention. Retrieved from https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Responses-to-Conflicts-between-Farmers-and-Herders-in-the-Middle-Belt-FINAL.pdf
- Lawal-Adebowale, O. A. (2012). Dynamics of ruminant livestock management in the context of the Nigerian agricultural system. In Javed, K. (Ed.), Livestock production (pp. 61-80). INTECH Open Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/52923 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/52923
- McCarthy, N. (2017, March 30). The cost of an AK-47 on the black market around the world. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/03/30/the-cost-of-an-ak-47-on-the-black-market-across-the-world-infographic/#2a3f98bd7442
- McGregor, A. (2017). The Fulani crisis: Communal violence and radicalization in the Sahel. CTC Sentinel, 10(2), 34-40. Retrieved from https://ctc.usma.edu/app/uploads/2017/02/CTC-Sentinel_Vol10Iss223.pdf
- Mercy Corps (2015a). The economic costs of conflict and the benefits of peace: Effects of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on state, sector, and national economies. Retrieved from https://www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/Mercy%20Corps%20Nigeria%20State%20Costs%20of%20Conflict%20Policy%20Brief%20July%202015.pdf
- Mercy Corps (2015b). The economic costs of conflict and the benefits of peace: Effects of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on households. Retrieved from https://www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/Mercy%20Corps%20Nigeria%20Household%20Costs%20of%20Conflict%20Policy%20Brief%20July%202015.pdf
- Mikailu, N. (2016, May 5). Making sense of Nigeria’s Fulani-farmer conflict. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36139388
- Musa, S. D, Shabu, T. & Igbawua, M. I. (2016). Resource use conflict between farmers and fulani herdsmen in Guma local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Defense Studies and Resource Management, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9315.1000121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9315.1000121
- NBS (National Bureau of Statistics) (2018). Demographic statistics bulletin 2017. Retrieved from https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/775.
- Nwabueze, B (2010) Strengthening democracy in Africa. The Nation, Lagos, 12 January..
- Nwozor, A. (2018). African Union, state-building and the challenges of state fragility in Africa. Austral: Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations, 7(13), 64-84. https://doi.org/10.22456/2238-6912.80373 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22456/2238-6912.80373
- Okoli, A. (2016, March 26). Enugu community decries arrest of 76 villagers after feud with Fulani herdsmen. Vanguard. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/enugu-community-decries-arrest-76-villagers-feud-fulani-herdsmen/
- Olaniyan, A & Yahaya, A. (2016). Cows, bandits, and violent conflicts: Understanding cattle rustling in northern Nigeria. Africa Spectrum, 51(3), 93-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/000203971605100305
- Ortom, S. (2018). The challenges of mitigating herdsmen attacks on people of Nigeria: Lessons from Benue State. Being a paper presented by the Executive Governor of Benue State at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
- Vanguard (2017, October 30). Shift attention to Fulani herdsmen menace, Fayose tells military. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/shift-attention-fulani-herdsmen-menace-fayose-tells-military/
References
Author Contributions
The study was carried out with contributions from all the authors. Specific contributions are as follows: KA designed the study and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AN refined the title, managed data from respondents and wrote the final version of the manuscript. JSO reviewed and restructured the first draft, incorporated more literature and data. All the authors proofread and approved the final manuscript.
References
Adamu, A & Ben, A. (2017). Nigeria: Benue State under the shadow of “herdsmen terrorism†(2014 – 2016). World Watch Research. Retrieved from https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Nigeria-Benue-State-2017-WWR.pdf
Adebayo, A. G. (1991). Of Man and Cattle: A Reconsideration of the Traditions of Origin of Pastoral Fulani of Nigeria. History in Africa, 18, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/3172050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3172050
Adekola, O and J. Lamond (2018) ‘A media framing analysis of urban flooding in Nigeria: Current narratives and implications for policy’. Regional Environmental Change., 18(4). pp. 1145–1159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1253-y. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1253-y
Adesina, A. (2012). Agricultural Transformation Agenda: Repositioning agriculture to drive Nigeria’s economy. Retrieved from https://queenscompany.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/2/5/38251671/agric_nigeria.pdf
Ahmed-Gamgum W. A. (2018) Herdsmen and farmers’ conflict in Nigeria: Another dimension of insecurity. Journal of Public Administration and Social Welfare Research, 3(1), 35-62.
Ajibefun, M. B. (2018). Social and Economic Effects of the menace of Fulani herdsmen crises in Nigeria. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 8(2), 133- 139. https://doi.org/10.2478/jesr-2018-0024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jesr-2018-0024
Akinkuotu, E. (2016, May 26). Herdsmen recorded video of Enugu massacre – police. Punch. Retrieved from https://punchng.com/herdsmen-recorded-video-enugu-massacre-police/
Akinnaso, N. (2018, March 13). Who are the cattle owners in Nigeria? Punch. Retrieved from https://punchng.com/who-are-the-cattle-owners-in-nigeria/
Akinyetun, T. S. (2016). Staff to Gun: Fulani Herdsmen in Nigeria. Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 4(8), 38-44.
Aliyu, A. A., and L. Amadu (2017) ‘Urbanization, cities, and health: The challenges to Nigeria - A review’. Annals of African Medicine. 16(4). pp. 149-158. https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_1_17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_1_17
Asogwa, F. C. & Okafor, N. I. (2016). Herders-farmers conflict and national security in Nigeria. South East Journal of Political Science, 2(2), 22-37
Bloch, R., S. Fox, J. Monroy, and A. Ojo (2015) Urbanisation and urban expansion in Nigeria. Urbanisation Research Nigeria (URN) Research Report. London: ICF International. Retrieved from http://urn.icfwebservices.com/Media/Default/Publications/URN%20Theme%20A%20Urbanisation%20Report%20FINAL.pdf (last accessed on 18 February 2019)
Bonkat, L. (2008) Effects of Conflict Escalation: The Conflict in Langtang South Local Government Area, In Best S. G. (Ed.), Causes and conflicts in the southern zone of Plateau state, Nigeria, Centre for Management and Peace Studies, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Campbell, J. (2018, December 20). The numbers behind sectarian violence in Nigeria. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/blog/numbers-behind-sectarian-violence-nigeria#main-content
CBN (Central bank of Nigeria). (2018). Central Bank of Nigeria annual report, 2018. Abuja: CBN. Retrieved from https://www.cbn.gov.ng/Out/2019/RSD/2018%20AR%20KAMA1.pdf
Dimelu, M. U., Salifu, E. D & Igbokwe,E. M. (2016). Resource use conflict in agrarian communities, management and challenges: A case of farmer-herdsmen conflict in Kogi State, Nigeria. Journal of Rural Studies, 46, 147-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.011
Ducrotoy, M. J., Majekodunmi, A. O. , Shaw, A. P. M., Bagulo, H., Bertu, W. J., Gusi, A. M., Ocholi, R. & Welburn, S. C. (2018). Patterns of passage into protected areas: Drivers and outcomes of Fulani immigration, settlement and integration into the Kachia Grazing Reserve, northwest Nigeria. Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 8(1), 1-16. DOI 10.1186/s13570-017-0105-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-017-0105-1
Egbuta, U. (2018). Understanding the herder-farmer conflict in Nigeria. Conflict Trends, 2018/3. Retrieved from https://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/understanding-the-herder-farmer-conflict-in-nigeria/
FMARD (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). (2011). Agricultural transformation agenda: We will grow Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Retrieved from http://unaab.edu.ng/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Agricultural%20Transformation%20Blue%20Print.pdf
Igata, F. (2016, April 30). Enugu: Blow-by-blow account of how herdsmen killed 46 natives. Vanguard. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/enugu-blow-blow-account-herdsmen-killed-46-natives/
Ilo, U. J., Jonathan-Chaver, I & Adamolekun, Y. (2019, January 23). The deadliest conflict you’ve never heard of: Nigeria’s cattle herders and farmers wage a resource war. Foreign Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/nigeria/2019-01-23/deadliest-conflict-youve-never-heard
Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). (2015). Global terrorism index 2015: Measuring and understanding the impact of terrorism. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2015%20Global%20Terrorism%20Index%20Report_0_0.pdf
International Crisis Group (2017). Herders against farmers: Nigeria’s expanding deadly conflict. Africa Report No. 252. Retrieved from https://d2071andvip0wj.cloudfront.net/252-nigerias-spreading-herder-farmer-conflict.pdf
Kwaja, C. M. A & Ademola-Adelehin, B. I. (2018) Responses to conflict between farmers and herders in the middle belt of Nigeria: Mapping past efforts and opportunities for violence prevention. Retrieved from https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Responses-to-Conflicts-between-Farmers-and-Herders-in-the-Middle-Belt-FINAL.pdf
Lawal-Adebowale, O. A. (2012). Dynamics of ruminant livestock management in the context of the Nigerian agricultural system. In Javed, K. (Ed.), Livestock production (pp. 61-80). INTECH Open Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/52923 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/52923
McCarthy, N. (2017, March 30). The cost of an AK-47 on the black market around the world. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/03/30/the-cost-of-an-ak-47-on-the-black-market-across-the-world-infographic/#2a3f98bd7442
McGregor, A. (2017). The Fulani crisis: Communal violence and radicalization in the Sahel. CTC Sentinel, 10(2), 34-40. Retrieved from https://ctc.usma.edu/app/uploads/2017/02/CTC-Sentinel_Vol10Iss223.pdf
Mercy Corps (2015a). The economic costs of conflict and the benefits of peace: Effects of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on state, sector, and national economies. Retrieved from https://www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/Mercy%20Corps%20Nigeria%20State%20Costs%20of%20Conflict%20Policy%20Brief%20July%202015.pdf
Mercy Corps (2015b). The economic costs of conflict and the benefits of peace: Effects of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on households. Retrieved from https://www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/Mercy%20Corps%20Nigeria%20Household%20Costs%20of%20Conflict%20Policy%20Brief%20July%202015.pdf
Mikailu, N. (2016, May 5). Making sense of Nigeria’s Fulani-farmer conflict. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36139388
Musa, S. D, Shabu, T. & Igbawua, M. I. (2016). Resource use conflict between farmers and fulani herdsmen in Guma local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Defense Studies and Resource Management, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9315.1000121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9315.1000121
NBS (National Bureau of Statistics) (2018). Demographic statistics bulletin 2017. Retrieved from https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/775.
Nwabueze, B (2010) Strengthening democracy in Africa. The Nation, Lagos, 12 January..
Nwozor, A. (2018). African Union, state-building and the challenges of state fragility in Africa. Austral: Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations, 7(13), 64-84. https://doi.org/10.22456/2238-6912.80373 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22456/2238-6912.80373
Okoli, A. (2016, March 26). Enugu community decries arrest of 76 villagers after feud with Fulani herdsmen. Vanguard. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/enugu-community-decries-arrest-76-villagers-feud-fulani-herdsmen/
Olaniyan, A & Yahaya, A. (2016). Cows, bandits, and violent conflicts: Understanding cattle rustling in northern Nigeria. Africa Spectrum, 51(3), 93-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/000203971605100305
Ortom, S. (2018). The challenges of mitigating herdsmen attacks on people of Nigeria: Lessons from Benue State. Being a paper presented by the Executive Governor of Benue State at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Vanguard (2017, October 30). Shift attention to Fulani herdsmen menace, Fayose tells military. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/shift-attention-fulani-herdsmen-menace-fayose-tells-military/