Conflict Dynamics between Farmers and Herders: A Case Study of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Nigeria

Abstract

The farmers and herder’s conflicts have become a significant concern globally, posing threats to food security and socio-economic stability. Therefore, the study explored farmer-herders conflicts in Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT Abuja specifically Karshi, Chori, Gasaki and Wasa communities. The specific objectives were to examine the nature and causative factors of farmer-herders conflict and study the socio-economic effects of farmer-herders conflict. Conflict and Frustration Aggression theories were used for the study. Using mixed methods, the study drawn a sample size of 210 respondents out of which 100 respondents were farmers and 100 were herders in Karshi, Chori, Gasaki and Wasa communities of AMAC. An in-depth interview (IDI) was conducted with 5 herder Hardo and 5 farmers using purposive sampling techniques. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select respondents for the study.  The study revealed that conflict between farmers and herders were for competition for land and water, greener posture, grievance and political in nature and competition for scarce resources was a factor in the farmers-herders conflict. They often compete for access to land for grazing, water sources, population growth and urbanization increase and farming, the Fulani herdsmen and cattle lands (Labi), destruction of crops, communication barriers, inadequate grazing reserved, cattle rustling and mutual distrust. Also, study revealed that the conflict has contributed to the deteriorating social relations between the farmers and the herder resulted in suffering and loss of lives and properties, which has effect on agriculture or farming and livelihood of the people.