Herder-Farmer Conflicts: The Politicization of Violence and Evolving Security Measures in Nigeria

Nwozor, Agaptus; Olanrewaju, John Shola; Oshewolo, Segun; Oladoyin, Anthony Mayowa; Adedire, Solomon Adebayo; Okidu, Onjefu

doi:10.1080/19392206.2021.1901181

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The herders' grievances among the causes of eco-violence are harassment in the host communities, cattle rustling, loss of lives, and denial of access to grazing fields (65)(66)(67). States' failures enable the emergence of ungoverned spaces that are conducive atmospheres for the proliferation of conflict (4,43,46). The proliferation of military-grade weapons fuels and elongates these conflicts (10,46).…”

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…States' failures enable the emergence of ungoverned spaces that are conducive atmospheres for the proliferation of conflict (4,43,46). The proliferation of military-grade weapons fuels and elongates these conflicts (10,46). The Federal Government of Nigeria and some state governments' responses to eco-violence are prolonging these conflicts (33,36,66).…”

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neo-pastoralism is a type of large-scale cattle ownership by non-pastoralists who employ paid pastoralists who use automatic rifles to herd cattle across Nigeria, with the primary goal of laundering illicit funds and profit (10). The Fulani herders' persistence not to abandon open grazing discarding calls to adopt modern animal husbandry practices is a multiplier of ecoviolence (46). The escalating patterns of conflicts in the Middle Belt emerged in 2014 (7,46,47) and the introduction of automatic firearms made it possible (10,46).…”

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Fulani herders' persistence not to abandon open grazing discarding calls to adopt modern animal husbandry practices is a multiplier of ecoviolence (46). The escalating patterns of conflicts in the Middle Belt emerged in 2014 (7,46,47) and the introduction of automatic firearms made it possible (10,46). Yet, apart from a few studies (10,46), the literature is yet to engage adequately with the factors acting as catalysts for the unprecedented escalation of eco-violence in Nigeria.…”

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This article departs from those approaches to investigate how political developments in Nigeria's Middle Belt since 2014 have contributed to the escalation of eco-violence. Since 2014, these conflicts have morphed from sporadic flare-ups into almost daily occurrences of mass violence (46,47), and Benue state is its epicentre (25). The focus is specifically on conflicts between the Tiv farming communities and Fulani herders in Benue State, drawing on information obtained from ten semi-structured stakeholder interviews, four community-based focus group discussions, as well as from secondary sources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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 have transformed into daily occurrences of mass violence. While extant research focuses on the root causes of such conflicts, the reasons for their escalation remain insufficiently understood. Based on fieldwork conducted during 2018-2019, this article examines how political developments have contributed to the escalation of conflict in the region. Using Homer-Dixon's theory of civil strife as a conceptual framework, the findings show that changes in the 'political opportunity structure' in Nigeria since 2014 were a catalyst for escalating the conflicts. These changes resulted from the 2014 insecurity in Nigeria caused by terrorist acts committed by non-state actors and the outcomes of the 2015 election. The consequences were the unvarnished adoption of nepotistic domestic policies and alliances between elites and militia members.

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Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Eco-violence In the Sahelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Olumba

2021

Preprint

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Climate‐related armed conflict and communities' resistance to Rural Grazing Area settlement policy in Nigeria's Middlebelt

Ojo

2023

Conflict Resolution Qtrly

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In Nigeria, resource contests have sparked unending ecological conflict. As a result, conflict resolution measures have been proposed to mitigate climate‐related conflict. However, the acceptance of such policies is hampered by ethnic suspicions, communities' exclusion, religious sensitivities, and a lack of political will. State policies are frequently based on centralized resources, which is exacerbated by the complexities of power relations between central and sub‐national authorities. Thus, this article examines communities' resistance to the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlement policy in Nigeria's Middlebelt using Benue state as a reference point. The study employed a quantitative method using questionnaires. The study used a sample size of 385 questionnaires administered in Guma, Gwer‐West, Gwer‐East, Ukum, and Logo local governments in Benue state. Therefore, the article found that the failure of communities' inclusivity substantially contributed to the local revolt against the RUGA settlement policy. Specifically, the study's findings demonstrate that the possibility of losing ancestral lands, the past experience of the host communities, ethnic and political factors, and poor policy awareness were the primary factors that reinforced communities' resistance to RUGA policy. Moreover, the government's over‐reliance on an authoritarian mechanism and wrong policy choices compounded by a non‐inclusive approach contributed to policy failure to gain acceptability at the grassroots level in Benue state. As an intervention, the article recommends democratically inclusive conflict resolution strategies for climate‐related armed conflict in the region.

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Conflict of Survival Between Fulani Pastoralists and Farmers in the Wake of Climate Change Nigeria

Ehiane,

Zondi,

Gumede

2024

Africa's Global Engagement: Perspectives From Emerging Countries

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Herder-Farmer Conflicts: The Politicization of Violence and Evolving Security Measures in Nigeria

Cited by 21 publications

References 36 publications

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

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

Climate‐related armed conflict and communities' resistance to Rural Grazing Area settlement policy in Nigeria's Middlebelt

Conflict of Survival Between Fulani Pastoralists and Farmers in the Wake of Climate Change Nigeria

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