Moral wrongs, indigeneity and the enactment of farmer-herder conflicts violence in South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Existing studies of the farmer-herder conflicts (FHCs) in Nigeria have not explored the political ecology of the conflict in South-Eastern Nigeria (SEN). Using the political ecology framework (PEF), the paper examines the nature of the FHCs in Nimbo and Awgu areas in SEN. Data were collected through field observations and in-depth interviews. The paper shows that resource scarcity or reduced farming and grazing spaces did not engender violent FHCs in the study area. Instead, actions of the actors that are perceived to be morally wrong are critical. Allegations of moral transgression such as rape, kidnapping by herders and claims that a herder was used as a sacrifice by villagers triggered the violent episode. The pastoralists are discriminated against on the ground of indigenous belonging only after being alleged to have morally transgressed by kidnapping and raping women. However, on the ground that a herder was allegedly used as a sacrifice, they felt also wronged. While the herders are discriminated against based on their non-belonging in the community because they are not indigenous, they have mount resistance by emphasising their citizenship rights and using force to maintain access to grazing spaces, thereby amplifying the farmer-herder tensions. Thus, while identity has contributed to the FHCs violence, moral wrongs enacted and amplified it. The paper contributes to the literature by arguing that while what triggers FHCs may be moral wrongs, moral transgressions can heighten identity constructions that get implicated in practices of exclusion.

The Moral Economy of the Agatu “Massacre”: Reterritorializing Farmer-Herder Relations

“…Thus, the findings support “political ecologists” claim that material conditions alone do not trigger farmer-herder conflicts. It requires an ideological commitment violation to manifest breaching traditions of utilizing resources (Turner et al, 2011 ) and other issues unrelated to seeking redress for uncompensated crop damage, such as killing herder for sacrifice (Nwankwo & Okafor, 2021 , 2022 ).…”

“…This method enabled researchers to assess the accuracy of their data collection efforts and make any necessary revisions. Afterwards, interviews were sorted through and coded into relevant themes while grounded theory perspectives were used to trace their conceptual origins (Nwankwo & Okafor, 2021 ).Using these grounded theory principles and techniques, the most suitable theorization that encapsulates the farmer-herder conflict in Agatu is a moral economy concept with a political ecology flavour. The next section discusses how tensions in the farmer-herder relations developed because of crop damage by cattle termed “barna”.…”

“…They did it because of the Hardo, their chief that Tiv kidnapped from here” (Interview A50, traditional ruler). Indeed, pastoralists often consider the killing of a herder by farmers unacceptable and a transgression that must be avenged (Nwankwo & Okafor, 2021 , 2022 ). The herder fled Agatu following this incident and planned for revenge for a year.…”

“…Therefore, the paper frames the conflicts around a moral dimension of the political ecology literature on the African farmer-herder conflicts (Turner, 2004 ; Nwankwo & Okafor, 2021 ). In doing this, the article contributes to the literature on the farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria as the political ecology perspective is scarcely adopted.…”

Assemblage thinking and actor–network theory: Reconciling the perspectives of environmental security and political ecology for improving the understanding of farmer–herder conflicts in Africa

“…With respect to Northwest Cameroon, Mbih (2020) indicates that the economic interests of the colonial and postcolonial authorities, for example, revenue generation via taxation, contributes to the emergence and continuance of FHCs. Nwankwo (2023) presents that the profit-seeking tendencies of farmers and herders are linked to the changes in the political economy structure of Nigeria, which has shifted towards the neoliberal order through the introduction of structural adjustment programs.…”