Pastoralist, farmers and desertification induced conflict in North Central and Southern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Desertification-induced conflict involving pastoralists and farmers is primarily driven by competition for water, forage, and land, other factors like ethnicity and religion also come into play. This paper utilizes descriptive analysis and secondary data, adopting the Economic & Migration Theory to explain the issue in the southern frontiers. Findings from the paper show that in the southward frontiers, the conflict has taken a different dimension due to differences in culture and religion. The migration from the core north which has been ravaged by desertification to the south has increased confrontation between these groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Desertification
• pastoralist
• farmers
• conflict
• south and Nigeria

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Higazi, Adam. ‘Farmer-pastoralist conflicts on the Jos Plateau, central Nigeria: security responses of local vigilantes and the Nigerian state’. 360–362.

2. Koubi, Vally. ‘Climate change and conflict’. 340.

3. Adamu, James Ijampy. ‘Overview of the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction: Nigerian Meteorological Agency’.

4. Chukwuma, Kodili Henry. ‘Constructing the herder–farmer conflict as (in) security in Nigeria’. 61–64. Gao, Huilin, T. J. Bohn, E. Podest, K. C. McDonald, and D. P. Lettenmaier. ‘On the causes of the shrinking of Lake Chad.’. Oduah, Chika. Nigeria: Deadly nomad-versus-farmer conflict escalates’. Odinkalu, Chidi Anslem, Tukur, Mohammed Bello. ‘The Urgent Need to Address Farmers-Pastoralists Conflicts in Nigeria’.

5. Hsiang, Solomon M., Kyle C. Meng, and Mark A. Cane. ‘Civil conflicts are associated with the global climate’ 439.

6. Burke, Marshall, Solomon M. Hsiang, and Edward Miguel. ‘Global non-linear effect of temperature on economic production’. 236.

7. Jia, Ruixue. ‘Weather shocks, sweet potatoes and peasant revolts in historical China’ 100–103.

8. Gawande, Kishore, Devesh Kapur, and Shanker Satyanath. ‘Renewable natural resource shocks and conflict intensity: Findings from India’s ongoing Maoist insurgency’. 152.

9. Landis, Steven T. ‘Temperature seasonality and violent conflict: The inconsistencies of a warming planet’. Bollfrass, Alexander, and Andrew Shaver. ‘The effects of temperature on political violence: Global evidence at the subnational level’. O’Loughlin, John, Andrew M. Linke, and Frank DW Witmer. ‘Effects of temperature and precipitation variability on the risk of violence in sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–2012’. 16714.

10. Becerril-Piña, Rocio, and Carlos Alberto Mastachi-Loza. Desertification: Causes and countermeasures’. 220.

11. Maystadt, Jean-François, and Olivier Ecker. ‘Extreme weather and civil war: Does drought fuel conflict in Somalia through livestock price shocks?’. 1159–1163.

12. Jun, Tackseung. ‘Temperature, maize yield, and civil conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa’.

13. Lenshie, Nsemba Edward, Kelechi Okengwu, Confidence N. Ogbonna, and Christian Ezeibe. ‘Desertification, migration, and herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria: rethinking the ungoverned spaces thesis’. 12–14.

14. Khairalseed, Abd Almohsin Rizgalla. ‘Desertification in Sudan, concept, causes and control’. 88.

15. Mwangi, Oscar Gakuo. ‘Environmental change and human security in Lesotho: The role of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project in environmental degradation’. 62–64.

16. Dell, Melissa, Benjamin F. Jones, and Benjamin A. Olken. ‘What do we learn from the weather? The new climate-economy literature’. 753.

17. Dal Bó, Ernesto, and Pedro Dal Bó. ‘Workers, warriors, and criminals: social conflict in general equilibrium’. 651.

18. Brzoska, Michael, and Christiane Fröhlich. ‘Climate change, migration and violent conflict: vulnerabilities, pathways and adaptation strategies’. Gaikwad, Nikhar, and Gareth Nellis. ‘The majority‐minority divide in attitudes toward internal migration: Evidence from Mumbai’. 461–465.

19. Brzoska, Michael, and Christiane Fröhlich. ‘Climate change, migration and violent conflict: vulnerabilities, pathways and adaptation strategies’. Gaikwad, Nikhar, and Gareth Nellis. ‘The majority‐minority divide in attitudes toward internal migration: Evidence from Mumbai’. 3.

20. Seiyefa, Ebimboere. ‘How climate change impacts on regional security in West Africa: Exploring the link to organised crime.’ 165–167.

21. Seiyefa, Ebimboere. ‘How climate change impacts on regional security in West Africa: Exploring the link to organised crime.’ 5.

22. Abdullahi, Muhammad. ‘The Impact of Armed Banditry and Human Displacement On Sustainable Human Development In Zamfara State’. 14.

23. Ogbette, Afamefuna Samuel, and Augustine Onyenachira Attama. “Fulani-Herdsmen and Farmers Crises Under Buhari’s Administration: Causes, Effects and Its Management (2015–2018)’. Doherty-Odueko, Funmilayo. ‘Panacea for pastoralists-farmers conflicts in Nigeria’. 112.

24. Azad, M., Emily Elizabeth Crawford, and Heidi Kristiina Kaila. ‘Conflict and Violence in Nigeria: Results from the North East, North Central, and South South Zones’.

25. Azad, M., Emily Elizabeth Crawford, and Heidi Kristiina Kaila. ‘Conflict and Violence in Nigeria: Results from the North East, North Central, and South South Zones’. 31.

26. Azad, M., Emily Elizabeth Crawford, and Heidi Kristiina Kaila. ‘Conflict and Violence in Nigeria: Results from the North East, North Central, and South South Zones’. 2.

27. Beetseh, Kwaghga, Samuel Dzever Tion, and Victoria M. Terwase. ‘Herdsmen/farmers crises in Nigeria: The role of librarians in resolving crises’.

28. Wuyo, Ibrahim Hassan. Again, gunmen kill 9 in Kajuru.

29. Okeke, Okechukwu Edward. ‘Conflicts between Fulani herders and farmers in central and southern Nigeria: Discourse on proposed establishment of grazing routes and reserves’.

30. Osuyi, Paul. ‘Irate youths raze Fulani settlement over killing of Delta vigilante leader’.

31. Osuyi, Paul. ‘Irate youths raze Fulani settlement over killing of Delta vigilante leader’. 29.

32. Mohammed, Abubakar, and Yahaya Tanko Baba. ‘Herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts and rising security threats in Nigeria’. 10–11.

33. Eke, Surulola. ‘Nomad savage ‘and herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria: the (un) making of an ancient myth’. Eke, Surulola. 5. 751–753.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ismail Bello

Ismail Bello is a Lecturer with the Department of Political and Administrative Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kampala International University (KIU), Kampala Uganda. He also serves the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Baze University, where he taught International Economic Relations, European Union and Developing Countries, Politics of Contemporary Middle East, International Relations & Diplomacy of Great Powers (US, China, Russia). Dr Bello earned PhD in International Studies from School of International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia. He earned Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy and Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science respectively from Ahmadu Bello University in 2015 and 2011. Dr Bello’s PhD thesis was recommended for Best Thesis Award by the external examiner. Dr Bello’s main research area includes Sustainable Development Goals, International Development Foreign Policy, and Security. Findings from my previous research have been published in journals such as; The Roundtable: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, Journal of Lifelong Education, Journal of Economic Cooperation and Development, Journal of International Studies, International Journal for Education Management.

Sophia Kazibwe

Sophia Kazibwe is a Senior Lecturer and the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs, Kampala International University. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Principal College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deputy Director, Academic Affairs in charge of teaching and learning. She also served as the Deputy Director of Institute of Social Research. Kazibwe holds a PhD in Management Science (Public Management), Master of Human Resource Management from Kampala International University and Bachelor of DVS from Makerere University. Her research interests include human resource management, gender, policy evaluation, and enhancing quality in higher education. She has a vast experience in institutional administration, teaching, research and community engagement. She has 15 years Administration experience, 13 years of teaching experience, and 10 years of research.