Herders-Farmers Conflict And Socio- Economic Development In Logo Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria
Ishaya Samaila Atobauka, Bitrus Joseph, Abe Emmanuel Bonku
Keywords: Herders, farmers, conflict, poverty, food shortage, development
Abstract
This study interrogates the impacts of herders-farmers conflict on the socio-economic development of residents in Logo Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopts the ex-post facto research design. The study engages the resource scarcity theory as the theoretical framework of analyses. The study’s findings revealed that there is blockage of cattle routes as a result of population growth and urbanization in Logo Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. This has resulted to the quest to expand farmlands; as such, the routes used by herders are cultivated and this aggravates conflict. The study concludes that because of the persistent herders-farmers conflict in Logo Local Government Area, economic and agricultural activities in the area have dwindled thereby causing food shortages which translate to poverty and hunger. The study recommends that both the Benue State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency ensure that grazing reserves are created to mitigate herders-farmers conflict from reoccurring and that there should be increasing economic opportunities and reducing economic inequalities through job creation, skills acquisition training and fair labour practices.
Author Biography
Ishaya Samaila Atobauka, Bitrus Joseph, Abe Emmanuel Bonku
Department of Political Science, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
ishayas@fuwukari.edu.ng, bitrusjoseph2020@gmail.com, ebonku800@gmail.com