An Assessment of the Impact of Farmers-Herdsmen Conflict on National Security: Study in Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of farmers-herdsmen conflict on insecurity in Yobe State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are: to examine the nature of farmers-herdsmen conflict in Yobe State; to assess the impact of farmers-herdsmen conflict on insecurity; and to provide measures for addressing the problem of farmers-herdsmen conflict in the study area. Anchored on eco-violence theory, the study adopts a descriptive research design to explain how competition over land, water, and grazing resources generates violent inter-group relations. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining questionnaire survey and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The study population comprised males and females aged 14 years and above, while the target population included farmers, herders, traditional and political leaders, and security personnel. A total sample of 300 respondents was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques, with 295 quantitative and 5 qualitative respondents. Findings reveal that crop destruction, competition over grazing routes and water points, and the increasing use of weapons are major triggers of conflict. The conflict has resulted in loss of lives, displacement, reduced agricultural productivity, proliferation of small arms, and weakened social cohesion, thereby exacerbating insecurity in the state. The study concludes that farmers–herdsmen conflict in Yobe State is structurally driven and requires integrated interventions. Farmers-herdsmen conflict has emerged as a persistent security and development challenge in Yobe State, one of the North-Eastern states of Nigeria with porous international boundaries, particularly with the Niger Republic. It recommends the establishment of functional grazing reserves, community-based mediation mechanisms, and inclusive land-use policies.