A Critical Evaluation of Herders-Farmer Conflict on Food Insecurity in Nigeria

Abstract

This study is centred on investigating the impact of herders-farmers conflict on food insecurity in Nigeria with relevance to six geo-pollical zones in Nigeria. Extant secondary publications were reviewed and supported with three different theories namely broken windows theory, Frustration-aggression theory and situational crime prevention theory. Mixed methods and descriptive research design was adopted to collected 10 in-depth interviews through the use of snowball sampling technique from participants with semistructured instrument while the quantitative data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire from 240 participants in six geo-political zones in Nigeria using purposive sampling technique and multistage sampling techniques. The study concluded that the current stage of food insecurity is a resultant effect herders-farmers clashes in six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Therefore, the recommended that the Nigeria government should create cattle routes in places where cattle rearing is prominent in the country. In addition, Nigeria government should enact anti-open grazing laws and they should be properly implemented. Also, the traditional rulers, group’s leaders and stakeholders in the country should be engaged in the enduring resolution of conflicts between herders and farmers