CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND PLAUSIBLE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IN HERDSMEN AND FARMERS’ CONFLICTS: A FOCUS ON ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND PLAUSIBLE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IN HERDSMEN AND FARMERS’ CONFLICTS: A FOCUS ON ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Summary/Abstract: The study examined the contemporary issues and plausible conflict management techniques herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state, Nigeria. Herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state, Nigeria has persisted, with concerns over the effect such conflicts could have on national development. There has equally been the need to evolve effective conflict-management strategies in order to end the conflicts. These necessitated the study with objectives to find out the causes of herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state, Nigeria; to examine the effects of the conflicts on Nigeria’s socio-economic development; and to identify plausible conflict management techniques needed to end the conflicts. The study applied descriptive survey research design with questionnaire as the major instrument for data collection. The collated data were analyzed using tables and percentages, while the hypotheses were tested using the chi-square statistical tool. The findings of the study revealed that the causes of herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts in Anambra state were multidimensional; the effects of the conflicts included drainage of governments’ resources, obstruction of delivery of public services, discouragement of potential foreign and local investors, among others; and the use of force and competing strategies by the government, the compromising of conflicting parties’ interests, the use of win-win strategy, use of withdrawer model, and accommodating each other's differences were plausible conflict-management techniques needed to curb the conflicts. Based on the findings, the study recommended, among others, that the government at all levels should engage in peace initiative to settle all farmers/herders’ conflicts amicably.

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