EXPLORING THE STATE OF HUMAN INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE FARMERS-HERDSMEN CONFLICT IN BENUE STATE AND ITS MANIFESTATION ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL FARMERS AND PASTORALISTS

Abstract

Benue state is one of the states in Nigeria, which is wrapped up in conflicts. The intermittent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state prompted the researcher to investigate the causes and effects of the conflicts in the state. To arrive at these, a mixed method approached was used where both qualitative and quantitative data was collected. Respondents were drawn from nine local governments which were affected by the conflict. Simple random sampling was used to select ten heads of communities from each Local Government. The total sample size stood at ninety (90) persons. The data gathered and analysed revealed that the rapid climatic changes, cattle rustling, religious and ethnic dichotomies and the scramble over cultivable and grazing fields were the main causes of the conflict which resulted in the death of over four thousand people, displacement of over half a million persons, gang rapes, rapes and the abduction of women as sex slaves. It was therefore recommended that the state should help farmers and herdsmen revitalize customary conflict resolution systems that made them co-existed peacefully prior to the advent of the conflict, and that the state should ensure human security through education, job opportunities and the increased physical presence of law enforcement agencies throughout the country.