Journal Article

Fighting Rising Insecurity Challenges in Nigeria

Abdul Azeez, Ismail Adaramola

2024

Overview

Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria has been grappling with diverse security challenges, chief among them are insurgency, election violence, kidnapping and most recently, the herder-farmer conflicts among others. The north central states of Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa and other states in South west of Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti, have experienced conflicts that led to thousands of deaths and displacements as a result of clashes between pastoralists (herders) and local farmers in several communities. This article interrogates the theoretical underpinnings of the conflict and analyses the trends and dynamics of the conflict. Recommendations are proffered to end the incessant herder-farmer conflicts, and by extension halt the killing and displacement of people. In January 2018 alone, Amnesty International reports indicate that 2000 people were killed as a result of herdsmen-farmer clashes. Struggle over grazing land and scarce resources have over the years resulted in perennial and growing violent conflicts in terms of frequency, intensity and geographic scope. Underpinning the escalation in frequency of conflicts in Nigeria is a confluence of environmental and demographic forces, especially desertification caused by climate change and population explosion. Expectedly, with the depletion of arable land for subsistence farming largely as a result of increasing urbanization and the adverse effect of climate change, especially along the Lake Chad basin, there is increased struggle between herdsmen and farmers leading to violent confrontations and conflicts, deaths and forced displacement, as well as the destruction of agriculture and livestock. The persistent attacks in Benue state have had a spill-over effect on the neighboring state of Nasarawa. In January 2018, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that over 19, 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Oyo, Nasarawa states.

• Publisher: مركز البحث وتطوير الموارد البشرية (رماح) بالتعاون جامعة القرآن الكريم وتأصيل العلوم بالسودان
• Subject: الأراضي الزراعية / الانفجار السكاني / الرعاة والمزارعين / العنف الانتخابي / نيجيريا