GEOGRAPHICAL ISSUES IN NIGERIAN ARMY’S INVOLVEMENT IN GRAZING LAND RESOURCE CONTESTATION, PUBLIC PACIFICATION AND CATTLE PROTECTION

Abstract

This paper explores ecological issues that manifest in the involvement of the Nigerian army in grazing land resource contestation, conflict that arise therefrom and the need to pacify the public and protect cattle production enterprise. Through literature review, the paper showed that the Nigerian army has been involved in resource wars and divisions of the army
have largely been formed as a response to resource protection challenges/needs. It found such issues of geographical importance in the army‟s place in grazing land resource wars as (1) the army‟s acquisition of special pastoral spaces (2) remoteness of rural pastoral conflict theatres from regular policing (3) security variegation of pastoral spaces (4) streamlined land use (5) expansion of military-controlled spaces. It sees geographical features affecting army‟s roles in public pacification; in creating safe havens, and in providing new settlement roles for military zones. It also found to be of importance,  geographical issues such as trans-boundary dimensions of cattle rustling in the army‟s involvement in cattle protection. The paper suggests a review of  legal frameworks, a review of spatiality of policing, recognition of limitations of military solutions and application of the power of markets to reduce the reliance on the army in grazing land resource wars and negotiating peaceful pastoral production.