HERDERS-FARMERS: CONFLICT AND HUMAN SECURITY IN IBARAPA COMMUNITIES, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nigeria has witnessed a share of herders and farmers conflicts over grazing land which have resulted in the loss of lives, unstable economy and worsened food crises. Hence, this study assessed effects of herders-farmers’ conflict on human security in Ibarapa communities in Oyo State Nigeria. Exploration research method was adopted to investigate the human security dimension of herders-farmers conflicts and management mechanisms deployed in handling the conflicts. Purposive sampling technique was used to select fifty respondents for the study. Primary data were collected on triggers of conflicts, conflict trends and patterns, the human security and management mechanisms adopted in addressing the conflicts using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using data triangulation, content analysis, and descriptive statistics. Results revealed that most (84.0%) of respondents were male, 64.0% were married, 52.0% had primary school education and 64.0% were between 18 and 35 years old. The major conflict triggers identified by the respondents were encroachment of farm lands and destruction of crops by cattle (46.0%), and ethnic and linguistic differences between the farmers and herders (30.0%). The major trends and pattern of conflict reported by the respondents are destruction of crops by herders (40.0%), constant fear (26.0%), competition for land (12.0%) and killings and reprisal attacks (10.0%). The in-depth interviews and focus group discussion report by the participants indicate that the nature of human security in the communities is very fragile and compromised, livelihood diversification from farming to okada riding, high level of insecurity, increased rural-urban migration among the youths, reduced agricultural production activities and high cost of agricultural produce. Confrontation mechanism (54.0%), mediation (26.0%) and negotiation (20.0%) were the common conflict resolution mechanisms used by the respondents in the study area. The participants of the focus group discussion reported that confrontation mechanism failed which brought about negotiation and mediation mechanisms that involved the state government officials, security agencies, community leaders, youths, herders and farmers; these mechanisms were more effective and yielded the relative peace currently enjoyed in the communities. This study concluded that peaceful negotiation and dialogue rather than confrontation is important to ameliorate incessant conflict among herders and farmers. The study recommends the need for the involvement of major stakeholders (including herders, farmers, community leaders, government officials, security agencies) in conflict resolution mechanisms to build trust and foster peaceful coexistence in the community.