RESOURCE- BASED CONFLICTS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FARMERS AND HERDERS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA
RESOURCE- BASED CONFLICTS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FARMERS AND HERDERS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Summary/Abstract: The recent dimensions of farmers and herders violent conflicts in many states in Nigeria, especially around the Middle belt region, has attracted the attention of policy makers and researchers alike. In spite of the concerted efforts by security agencies to check this disturbing phenomenon in states like Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi, there seems to be little or absolutely no lasting solution in sight. One state that has consistently remained a major flashpoint since 2015 till date in these violent clashes is Kogi. Several scores of innocent lives have been lost and property worth millions of dollars destroyed in the wake of this intractable carnage. This study seeks to assess the implications of this menace on the socio-economic relationship between the herders and farmers in the state. The data for this study were largely drawn from secondary sources such as text books, journals and other internet sources. The study also revealed that the spate of farmer-herder violent conflicts in some Local Government councils of Kogi state like Dekina, Olamaboro and Mopa in recent years has engendered mutual distrust, suspicion and hatred amongst the people of the areas. This trend, no doubt, has had far reaching negative implications on the socio-economic relationship between the farmers and herders. Finally, the study suggests among other things that the Kogi state government should take urgent steps towards strengthening already existing conflict-resolution mechanisms and initiating longer-term efforts to reform livestock management practices in the state.

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