An Agricultural Conflict: Farmers and Herders in Nigeria

The Farmer-Herder conflict within Central and West Africa has become an increasingly complex and intricate issue, stretching across ethnic and geographical lines. Across Nigeria, violence among farmers and herders has surged due to growing population pressure, land use and limited access to resources. Intercommunal conflict among farmers and herders alike have been inflamed and exacerbated by Islamic militant groups, further entrenching division and strife within the Sahel region. 

What is the Farmer-Herder conflict?

Within central and northern Nigeria, conflict between the local herdsmen and farmers has intensified dramatically. Nigeria has experienced the highest number of farmer-herder fatalities, with over 2000 deaths recorded in 2018. The driving force behind this conflict rests in the competition over adequate grazing land and resources, both which are desperately needed to maintain the livelihood of local communities. The former grazing reserve system implemented by the Nigerian government has seemingly been abandoned, an orderly system to which the government provided space, water and vaccinations for all livestock. However, after the discovery and exploration of oil in the 1980’s, Nigeria’s agricultural sector was subsequently neglected and ignored. The reduction of dependence on Nigeria’s agricultural sector have had impactful economic consequences, contributing to the reckless violence witnessed across Northern Nigeria.

What are the driving factors behind the Farmer-Herder conflict?

Growing Land Pressure

The greatest trigger regarding the conflict is the degradation of land by passing livestock. Nigeria’s rural population has increased dramatically, reaching more than 281 million people. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in demand for food, a basic need that many do not have due to the conflict. The decrease in cultivated land deepens the herders’ grievance to their right to resources such as food, land or water. Since herders only require seasonal access to resources, their needs are often seen as secondary and are left out of negotiation processes. In addition to this, cropland has also doubled in area reaching over 25% of the local land surface. Land scarcity forces herders into protected areas like national parks and classified forests. This prompts herders to increase their dependence on illegal practices to obtain an income. Government security officers responsible for enforcing the law are accused of deliberately targeting herders. This created division appeals to the recruitment process of Islamic militant groups, relying on the degradation of intercommunal relationships and groups.

Climate Change

Global warming continues to impact the businesses and livelihoods of herders and farmers alike. Increasing temperatures has resulted in the encroachment of the Sahara desert into the Sahel Region. As a result, water, which is a crucial necessity for farming practices, is limited and scarce. Dramatic climatic conditions have pushed farmers and herders to move further south, in search of already limited and viable land. The farmers and herders’ migration has resulted in further conflict with the local communities. The environmental impact of industrialisation and urbanisation has further decreased land availability, giving the farmers and herders little to nothing to work with. 

Lack of Political Will

Within the Nigerian government, there appears to be little to no implementation of ratified legislation and rules that might limit any form of conflict between the farmers and herders. However, the Nigerian government has pre-existing anti-open grazing policies that inhibit by-foot transportation of livestock. While this has reduced violent incidents, the government often appears to be in favour of the herders, who are Fulani. This prompts a poor version of legislation that excludes farmers, thus further increasing ethnic division and initiating additional violence. 

Recommendation and Concluding Thoughts

It is evident that government intervention is desperately needed to calm tension among the herders and farmers. The Nigerian Government had attempted to enact legislation to combat farmer-herder related conflict but were met by local opposition as shown in the failed implementation of the National Grazing Reserve Bill in 2016 and proposed Cattle Ranching System in 2018. Therefore, it is recommended that the Nigerian Government revisit these laws, in collaboration with both herders and farmers alike. Furthermore, the government should account for the farmer-herder grievances and the problems that impact them and their immediate surroundings. Either through the further establishment of land management infrastructure, the government can educate and inform local communities of alternative farming methods that are effective in spite of climatic changes. Nigeria should also look into enforcement of safe community policing to assist local and state law enforcement, should further conflict arise. It is undeniable that the rebuilding of communal trust is necessary and government should facilitate dispute resolution in an unbiased, neutral fashion.

In conclusion, the farmer-herder conflict is one that is complex and multifaceted. Growing land pressure, climate change, and the lack of political will within the Nigerian government are merely some of the issues affecting the farmer-herder conflict. It is therefore necessary for government to address these issues both at the local and state level by means of a top-down approach; implementing state legislation that is impactful and improves the livelihoods of local communities.

Image Credits: Ebere Jude Ekemezie — Edited by GorStra Team