Desertification, migration, and herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria: rethinking the ungoverned spaces thesis

Lenshie, Nsemba Edward; Okengwu, Kelechi; Ogbonna, Confidence N.; Ezeibe, Christian

doi:10.1080/09592318.2020.1811602

Cited by 43 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This paper focuses on ‘crimelordism’ as a dynamic of the contemporary dialectics of armed banditry within the context of Nigeria’s fragile state, characterized by ‘ungoverned spaces syndrome’ (Lenshie et al, 2020; Okoli, 2019a). It is an exploratory and conversational discourse that relies on secondary sources as well as corroborated field-based insights elicited through personal observations and key informants’ interviews.…”

Section: A Note On Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The UST is a post-9/11 (2001) paradigm that seeks to explain the spatio-territorial dimensions of a national security problematic, especially in fragile or weak states (Rabasa et al, 2007). The theory holds that governability deficits in weak/fragile states are conducive to territorial usurpation by anti-state forces (Lenshie et al, 2020). Put simply, the existence and prevalence of ungoverned, under-governed or poorly governed spheres in such states create enabling conditions for the emergence of non-state elements that are often inclined to compete with or contest the authority of the state (Okoli, 2019a).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework: Of ‘The Ungoverned Spaces’ Thesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Crimelordism’: Understanding a New Phenomenon in Armed Banditry in Nigeria

Okoli

Abubakar

2021

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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Armed banditry is prevalent in Nigeria. It has competed with insurgency for the soul of Nigeria’s national security. Contemporary trajectories of armed banditry in Nigeria have been full of complications. One of the complications is the emergence of crime lords who engage in a self-aggrandizing but also socially sensitive criminal career. This paper seeks to explore the phenomenon of ‘crimelordism’ as a new trend in armed banditry in Nigeria. Utilizing a mixed qualitative method, the paper posits that the prevalence of grossly under-governed territorial spaces, especially in the countryside and borderlands of Nigeria, has created a vacuum of security that is being exploited by criminal kingpins to establish enclaves of criminality where they wield and exercise quasi-territorial powers. The paper submits that ‘crimelordism’ holds critical implications for Nigeria’s national security in view of its ruinous impacts.

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Section: A Note On Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Framework: Of ‘The Ungoverned Spaces’ Thesismentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Crimelordism’: Understanding a New Phenomenon in Armed Banditry in Nigeria

Okoli

Abubakar

2021

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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“…The herders' grievances include harassment in the host communities, cattle rustling, loss of lives, and denial of access to grazing fields (70)(71)(72). States' failures enable the emergence of ungoverned spaces that are conducive atmospheres for the proliferation of conflict (30,31,34). The proliferation of military-grade weapons fuels and elongates these conflicts (10,34).…”

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These issues have been exacerbated by ethnicity and exclusionary practices (29). The emergence of 'ungoverned spaces' are also fuelling these conflicts (30,31).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Politics of Eco-violence: Why Is Conflict Escalating in Nigeria’s Middle Belt?

Olumba

2021

Preprint

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Competition for natural resources has intensified in recent years between nomadic Fulani herders and sedentary farmers in Nigeria's Middle Belt. What were initially sporadic conflicts over cropland and water resources have transformed into daily occurrences of mass violence. While extant research centres on the root causes of such conflicts, the reasons for their escalation remain insufficiently understood. This article examines how political developments have contributed to the escalation of conflicts in the region. Using Homer-Dixon's model, the findings show that changes in Nigeria's 'political opportunity structure' since 2014 were catalysts for escalating the conflicts. The consequences were the unvarnished adoption of nepotistic domestic policies and alliances between elites and militia members, which escalated the violent conflicts. It advocates the devolution of natural resource and security governance to prevent leaders from leveraging shifts in political opportunity structures to favour a specific demographic group.

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“…The migration of herders from one place to another in the country according to Lenshie et al (2020) is one of the genesis of insecurity in northern Nigeria, it is associated with climatic effect on the environment. Drought and desertification were identified as the major actors that degraded pastures, water bodies in the region, thereby making herders to migrate in search of grassland and water through farmlands.…”

Section: Climate and Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Physical Environmental Factors on The Rising Insecurity in Northwestern Nigeria

Darma

2021

Idn. J. Earth Sci.

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Northern part of Nigeria has witnessed a widespread security challenges in recent years, in most cases armed conflicts. Boko Haram's insurgency in the Northeast, herdsmen militancy in North-central, while in the Northwest, banditry has become the major security concern. Millions of people have been displaced, some were dead as a result. There are efforts by concerned entities, less attention was given to physical environmental. Environmental psychology has shown that the physical environment is responsible for behavior or crime; therefore, this study identifies the environmental factors that are influencing the increase of insecurity activities in the Northwestern states of Nigeria. Data was collected using focus group discussions, observations, interviews and review of related existing literature. System theory was used to show the interdependence of the factors by identifying and categorizing them into internal and external factors (artificial and natural). The internal factors include; Urbanization and Poor Environmental Design/Planning, Territorial encroachment, Urban poverty among others. While the external factors are; Climate, Topography and Vegetation, Natural resources and etc. The study discusses their effects on increasing insecurity in the region and concluded that both internal and external factors have significant effects on the increasing banditry in Northwestern part of the country and need to be viewed as a system and be treated holistically. Finally made some recommendation on the way forward.

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Desertification, migration, and herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria: rethinking the ungoverned spaces thesis

Cited by 43 publications

References 42 publications

‘Crimelordism’: Understanding a New Phenomenon in Armed Banditry in Nigeria

‘Crimelordism’: Understanding a New Phenomenon in Armed Banditry in Nigeria

The Politics of Eco-violence: Why Is Conflict Escalating in Nigeria’s Middle Belt?

Influence of Physical Environmental Factors on The Rising Insecurity in Northwestern Nigeria

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