Migrant Fulani Herdsmen and Native Farmers Conflict in Nigeria

Implications for Food Security and Livelihood

Abstract

In the past, the nomads have often come into conflicts with the local farmers. Growing clashes between crop farmers and herders have recently become one of Nigeria's most significant security concerns. The conflict in Nigeria has now extended over a huge geographic area. In most parts of Nigeria, resource conflicts between farmers and Fulani herders over land and agricultural productivity have turned into a threat to peace, human lives, and economic viability. This research investigates the migrant herdsmen/native farmers’ conflict; implication for food security and livelihood in middle-belt region of Nigeria. The study adopted a desktop research approach in which a thematic analysis of existing literature on conflict and food safety articles and publications served as the basis for the arguments presented. This paper is anchored on the social conflict theory. The paper found that, above all other resources, land has remained a major cause of conflict between Fulani herders and native farmers, posing a threat to crop farming and grazing activities and causing low productivity, unstable food supply, low food consumption, inaccessible food, and insufficient food availability in Nigeria. As a result, the study recommends that state and local governments strictly enforce the Open Grazing Prohibition. Second, through stakeholder meetings, peace-talk activities should be managed effectively and strategically.