Farmers-herders’ conflict and goal two (2) of the sustainable development goals in Benue State

Abstract

This study offers an analysis of the linkage between farmers-herders’ conflict and the goal two of the sustainable development goal in Benue State of Nigeria. The sustainable development goal which is a global movement addresses a number of issues one of which is zero hunger. However, the farmers-herders’ conflict has increasingly made the actualization of zero hunger difficult. With the use of secondary sources of data, this paper examines the negative experiences of farmers-herder’s conflict in Benue State and the challenges of coping with the conflict despite the existence of an anti-open grazing law. Theory of Eco-violence was adopted as the theory underpinning this study. This study which was content analyzed argued that food security is a critical aspect of society and all hands must be on deck to wrestle with whatever constitutes a threat to it. This study found that the goal two of the sustainable development goal, which centers on zero hunger, has not been achieved due to the lingering killings of farmers despite government’s response in the area of promulgating an anti-open grazing law in the State. The study also found that the effects of the conflict to lives and livelihood are enormous. The recommendations proffered by this study includes the adoption of a pragmatic, proactive and collaborative approach by government at all levels and the governed in the fight between farmers and herders as this will help to achieve a long-lasting reconciliatory solution between the two main parties involved in the conflict.

Co-Impact of Security Challenges, Energy Price Shocks, and Environmental Pollution on Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria

“…In addition to armed banditry and Boko Haram insurgency, the menace of cattle and sheep herdsmen in Nigeria also poses serious threat to national security (Egobueze et al, 2020) and food security (Ogbe and Nyiayaana, 2022;Abanyam et al, 2020;Alao et al, 2019). Unlike banditry and Boko Haram insurgency which are peculiar to Northwest and Northeast respectively, farmer-herder clashes are not peculiar to a specific region.…”