Assessment of the Effect of Farmers-Herdsmen Conflicts on National Integration in Nigeria
Aliyu, M. Kolawole, PhD; Ikedinma, Hope Amoge, PhD; Akinwande, Adeyoola Eunice

Abstract
This study examined incidents of farmers-herdsmen conflicts, its causes and effects on national integration in Nigeria with the view to providing information on the intricacies of the conflicts in the country. The study employed case study research design to interrogate into the phenomenon of farmers-herdsmen conflicts and used secondary data such as books, research articles, newspapers and government publications in Nigeria. The data was content analyzed. The study found that farmers-herdsmen conflicts are not caused by a single reason but are propelled by multi-causal factors, such as limited resources in the face of greater need, reprisal attack, and shortage of land as well as climate change among others. The study also found that farmers-herdsmen conflicts have disintegrative effect on the country. The study concluded that farmers-herdsmen conflicts are inimical to the unity of the country and therefore recommended that visibility study should be carried out in consultation with state governments to ascertain the establishment of suitable cattle ranching reserves for herdsmen, restoration of earlier symbiosis relationship between herdsmen and farmers, and that Nigeria’s porous borders be well monitored.

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