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| Farmers-Herders Conflicts and Ranches Establishment Law in Nigeria: A Study of Benue State |
DR. OJUKWU, U.G., OSUCHUKWU, N.C., ENEMUOH, N.V.
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Abstract:
Nigeria has in recent times witnessed increased clashes between farmers and herdsmen in different parts of the country especially in the Middle-Belt area like Benue, Taraba, Nassarawa and other states. The fighting, killings and destruction of public and private properties which has always characterized these crises has led to the incessant call by several concerned groups, individuals and organizations to call for the establishment of ranches especially in the states where the crises have been predominant. Benue state thus became the first state in Nigeria to tow the line of this call by establishing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017. This study, therefore, takes a critical view into the nature of the conflicts between farmers and herders in Nigeria which led to the enactment of the Ranches Establishment Law in Benue state. The study further assesses the nature of relations between the two groups after the law was enacted. The study is anchored on the Structural conflict theory. The study is qualitative in nature and secondary sources of data were used while content analysis was employed for data analysis. At the end of the study, we found that the relations between farmers and herders all over Nigeria have been more characterized by conflict and disagreement than peaceful and collaboration. We also found that despite the different setbacks which the Ranches Establishment Law has faced in Benue state, the farmers-herders relations in the state has been more peaceful since after the law was enacted. It is therefore recommended that the Federal Government should liaise with government of Benue state to ensure that the issues surrounding the farmers-herders conflict in Nigeria is given a lasting solution beyond the Ranches Establishment Law.
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