Fulani Herdsmen- Farmers Conflict in Benue State and National Security in Nigeria

Abstract

The conflict between Fulani herders and farmers is one of the recent national intractable issues in Nigeria. Acknowledging this fact, this paper examined severity of this conflict in Benue state and, its adverse effect on national security. The paper adopted descriptive-qualitative design explored the importance of secondary sources of data collection (articles, textbooks, documentaries) as data elicited were content-analyzed in Conflict and Eco-violence theoretical frameworks. The study revealed upsurge and sustained carnage by the Fulani militia against farmers in communities in Benue state. The unpleasant situation stemmed from unresolved issues between Fulani herders and farmers which consequently constitute serious national security threats in widespread terror to neighboring states, shortage supply of food commodities to neighboring regions and national food inflation occasioned with proliferation of militia across communities in neighboring states. From these findings, the paper recommends for expedited government roles complemented by traditional institutions and community stakeholders among other measures to address the scourge of Fulani herders-farmers’ conflicts in Benue state.