Farmers–Herdsmen Conflict, Cattle Rustling, and Banditry: The Dialectics of Insecurity in Anka and Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nigeria (original) (raw)
Related papers
2017
Agriculture is the major component of the rural economy in Katsina State. Livestock production is a major component of agricultural activities practised there and is a source of income and a form of security for farmers. Increasing attacks by cattle rustlers have disrupted the stability that had been enjoyed by pastoralists in rural communities within the State. This study, primarily seeks to critically investigate the Impact of cattle rustling and banditry on the livelihoods of pastoral communities in Katsina State. These issues are especially timely, as banditry and herder/farmer conflicts are more frequent, intense, and consequential than ever before. For this study, the respondents that were selected for in-depth study and empirical illustrations includes: the chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in the state and some elders in the Seven affected LGA in the State. There is growing skepticism over the cruelty in the military approach embarked upon by the current administration in combating cattle rustling, which seems analogous to the intervention used in combating Boko Haram insurgency in the past administration in Nigeria. Therefore, the time is ripe for the government to generate participatory policies whereby consultations should take center stage in finding solutions to cattle rustling and Banditry in the country.
This paper reviewed the sources of farmer's herder's conflict in Northwestern Nigeria. It unveiled the historical background of the cattle fulbe, the fulbe militia groups, recent changes in pastoral migration, areas of civil insecurity in Northwest, cattle rustling and banditry, security agencies responses to security issues in the north, pastoral organizations, social impacts of insecurity and ways of conflict management and resolution for sustained peaceful coexistence in Northwestern Nigeria. INTRODUCTION In Northwestern, conflicts between crop-farmers and herdsmen arise from disagreements over the use of land around farmland and/or grazing areas, and stock routes and access to water points for both animals and households. The movement of herdsmen from the far northern states of the country such as Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Kebbi and Zamfara and to the Benue valley is usually caused by the increasing demand for fresh grazing grounds especially during dry season periods; When the herdsmen move with their herds southwards because of the availability of pasture. In most cases, the herdsmen encountered problems with the local people, because farmers' crops are usually destroyed by their cattle (Pinga, 2018).Trouble sparked off when the Fulani herdsmen in search of grazing land destroyed people's crops like guinea corn, cassava, maize, millet and groundnut. These crops were the means of sustenance for the indigenes of the area. The Northern inhabitants were not happy with this development, they therefore retaliated by killing the herdsmen and cattle in their numbers. The herdsmen felt that their source of livelihood too is tampered with and unleashed mayhem on the indigene who were/are the original owners of the land. As a result, people fled from their homes, agricultural and other economic activities came to a halt in the rural areas where atrocities were perpetrated (Ibrahim, 2015). The researchers also observe that there was mass killing,
Cattle Rustling and Insecurity in Rural Communities of Kaduna State, Nigeria: An Empirical Study
Asian journal of multidisciplinary studies, 2018
Existing data on the level and magnitudes of insecurity in rural communities, Nigeria discloses an increase over time, which creates serious threat to lives and properties, hampers business activities. This rising upsurge of insecurity led by cattle rustling has remained unabated nonetheless has assumed a dangerous dimension which is threatening the corporate being of the country as one geographical entity. This study is on the nature of cattle rustling and its consequences on security in the rural communities of Kaduna State. The study was empirical in nature, qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews. Findings shows that cattle rustling has caused serious havoc in the rural communities in terms of loss of lives, psychological fear migration, and organised crime which culminated to insecurity. The study recommends that government responsiveness and co-opting community members in the security of the area will go a long way in solving the lingering insecurity in the s...
In this study the researcher examined the causes and effects of farmers-herders conflict in Hong and Gombi LGAs of Adamawa state, Nigeria. The sample size for the study consisted of 120 farmers and herdsmen respondents recruited from the two LGAs. Chi-square test and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data generated from the respondents. Findings from this study revealed that the major causes of farmersherders conflict across Hong and Gombi LGAs in Adamawa State include; destruction of farm produce and/or farmlands, harassment of herdsmen by host youths, stray cattle, sexual harassment of women by herdsmen and indiscriminate bush burning. The effects of farmers-herders conflicts as revealed from the study include; destruction of lives and properties beyond the farmlands, distrust between farmers and herdsmen as they perceive each party to be an enemy; hence, finding it difficult to cohabit in the same communities, the displacement of locals thereby rendering them internally displaced, acquisition of arms/weapons, disruption of farming activities, increased sexual harassment and rape and disruption of economic activities. A significant relationship exist between farmers-herders conflicts and resources sustainability in affected communities. From the study, some of the sustainable solutions/recommendations to the age-long conflicts include; ranching method of cattle farming, establishment of local policing and vigilante groups, involvement of both parties in dispute resolution mechanisms for peaceful coexistence , reorientation of the locals on the essence of peaceful coexistence and tolerance irrespective of background and religion differences and fair treatment without fear or favour in decision making processes by the law enforcement agents.
HERDSMEN/FARMERS CONFLICT AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Journal of Peace, Security and Development, 2018
Increase in competition for limited resources has often times led to violent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in many parts of Nigeria. The conflict has in recent years taken more dangerous dimension as the herdsmen now carry sophisticated ammunitions with which they kill and maim perceived opponents at will. This study therefore examines the prevalence of herdsmen-farmers conflict and its effects on socioeconomic development in Nigeria. The study is anchored on frustration aggression theory, and the theory dialectical-materialism. The research adopts qualitative approach to data analysis which relies on secondary sources like journals, textbooks, newspapers and online publications. Results show that the conflicts have resulted to loss of lives, displacement, distrust, destruction of properties etc. The study concluded that the Herdsmen-farmers conflict created food insecurity, distrust and unemployment. The study recommended that State governments should designate grazing fields for the nomadic herdsmen and make them pay tax to the state.
Herdsmen and Farmers Conflict in Nigeria: Another Dimension of Insecurity
2018
The objective of this paper is to understanding the rationale and how specific perennial conflicts between herdsmen and famers in Nigeria are being resolved before 2019 election in Nigeria to enable the people to resume normal life. In doing this we critically examined the perspectives of the disputants and the policy adopted by Federal and some State Governments to resolve it. The study collected data from both primary and secondary sources. And the technique of "content analysis" was used in analyzing the data. This study found that the conflicts created tension not only in areas where there was direct confrontation between the disputants but the conflicts terrorized every community and put them on alert to ensure that both short term and long solution was provided to return the State to a violent free community. Some State Governments made specific policies which include intergroup committees and or after due process of law making in a democratic society, presented open grazing prohibition and establishment of ranches laws to guide behaviors and the resolution of future conflicts that may arise between farmers and herdsmen in their respective States. Yet pocket of threats to life and property continued in some parts of the country to ensure the laws are not enforced and "cattle colonies" were established instead. This paper recommends that both parties to the dispute should continue to exercise restraints, and obey Government policy/law by using institutional approaches to resolve grievances. And a stop should be put to the destruction of life and properties.
Fulani herdsmen and farmers conflicts have remained one of the most predominate conflict in Nigeria. This study examined the impact of herdsmen-farmers conflict on agro-businesses in Nigeria. The study relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. It employed frustration-aggression theory and conflict theory. The findings of the study revealed that the necessity to provide food crops and animal products, as well as raw materials for industry and export in order to meet ever-growing demands, has led to extensive use of land. The competition between these two agricultural land user-groups, however, has often times turned into serious hostilities and social friction in many parts of Nigeria. This study describes the traditional relationship between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the incessant resource conflicts witnessed in Nigeria and how it affects security of those involved and resource sustainability for the local communities. The study concluded that access to land is one of the major causes of conflict, government should review existing laws as it relates to accessibility to land by members of the community. It recommends that government must make herdsmen to keep to agreed routes and farmers avoid farming across grazing reserves among others.
New drivers of conflict in Nigeria: an analysis of the clashes between farmers and pastoralists
2020
In the last few years, several African countries have witnessed an increase in conflict between pastoralists and sedentary farmers and among pastoralist groups. While issues such as climate change, desertification, regional conflicts, population expansion, trafficking and terrorism have been highlighted as the reasons for the surge in violence, none of these issues fully explain the increased use of small and light weapons by several pastoralist groups and sedentary farmers. This article explores the changes in the dynamics of cattle ownership, termed neo-pastoralism, as a possible explanation for the increase in armed clashes between the groups. The article explains how traditional pastoralism is gradually giving way to neo-pastoralism, a form of pastoralism which involves larger herds and increased use of arms and ammunitions. Nigeria is used as a case study to explore these new patterns of conflict due to having the largest number of cattle in the sub-Saharan Africa region and the scale of the conflict in the country. This article is based on field research and interviews carried out in Nigeria between 2013 and 2019.
Cattle rearing in Nigeria especially in Ussa and Takum region is not new because it is the primary occupation of the Hausa/Fulani. Nomadic Fulani herdsmen are basically required to graze over unused or unfarmed lands and this should and has been the practice in the past where they exist. However, what is new is the spate of aggressive attacks on their host communities. This study examines the Implications of Farmers-Herdsmen's Conflict on Security in Takum and Ussa Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. The raising profile of Fulani herdsmen attack and their criminal atrocities across the region is alarming. The paper recommends that government must ensure that the attacks of Fulani herdsmen are immediately treated as a national emergency because of the bad blood it has already created in the country. Efforts of government must ensure that the activities of Fulani herdsmen are checked to ensure peace and security across the country. Government must provide compensations for all victims of Fulani herdsmen criminal actions to ensure their rehabilitation and restoration. There is need for massive enlightenment and the use of restorative justice to douse tensions and rebuild trust in the society.
Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences
Internal security challenges in Nigeria, particularly herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts, have worsened over time. In Anambra state, clashes by the two groups have equally persisted. The key concern of this study was on the effect of this challenge on national development in Nigeria. In essence, the objective of this study was to examine how herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have affected national development in Nigeria. To achieve the objective of this study, the following hypothesis was posed: Herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have not supported national development in Nigeria. Anchored on the Eco-Violence Theory and the Deprivation, Frustration and Aggression Theory as the frameworks for analysis, the study adopted descriptive survey design and Questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Analysis of data was quantitatively carried out. Among other things, the study found out that herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state have some negative c...