Land Resource War in Africa: Examining Herdsmen-Farmers Contestations and Nigeria’s Economic Retardation, 2001-2019

Abstract

This study dwells on land resource contestations between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria, and its implications on economic retardation. Using extant literature and oral historical sources with the eco-violence and structural conflict theories, and adducing supporting evidence from statistics, it affirms the nexus between herdsmen-farmers conflicts and economic retardation in Nigeria. The causes of these conflicts ranged from trespass on farmlands, cattle rustling, confiscation of grazing reserves, and encroachment on traditional livestock migratory routes, among others. The paper identifies the economic effects of the phenomena paying attention to the destruction of lives and property, reduction in output, and income of farmers, et cetera. The study also explains the efforts made at resolving these conflicts. However, it concludes that these ended in futility because these conflicts are witness almost on daily basis. It recommends ranching , among others as the best option in addressing this societal malady.