New dimensions of the farmers and herdsmen crisis in Nigeria and the implications for development

Abstract

Conflict is believed to be a normal outcome of human social relationships. However, the concern of conflict sociologists is how this normal human response can become detrimental and dangerous to persons and the society as a whole. What has informed this paper is the deepening nature of the crises between nomadic herdsmen and farming communities in Nigeria, particularly its widespread nature and the socio-economic implications of the feud between these two livelihood groups. A more worrisome concern is some of the new factors being assumed to underpin the conflict, such as political, religious and ethnic drivers. Added to these are also the enormous costs in human and material losses as well as the loss of social capital in form of breakdown of social relationships that have been built over the years between these groups and neighbouring communities. Relationships that are known to be fragile have further nosedived and the development status of the country is deeply affected by this perennial crisis. This paper argued that the herdsmen and farmers' crisis is a manifestation of the failure of the Nigerian State to provide good governance and contain contestations within its territory. To address this crisis, the key drivers of conflict must be adequately and objectively handled by all the stakeholders and policy makers. Government should also be firm, fair and decisive in handling the crisis. Keywords: Conflict, Crisis, Development, Farmers, Herdsmen, Underdevelopment and Violence