New drivers of conflict in Nigeria: an analysis of the clashes between farmers and pastoralists

Abstract

In the last few years, several African countries have witnessed an increase in conflict between pastoralists and sedentary farmers and among pastoralist groups. While issues such as climate change, desertification, regional conflicts, population expansion, trafficking and terrorism have been highlighted as the reasons for the surge in violence, none of these issues fully explain the increased use of small and light weapons by several pastoralist groups and sedentary farmers. This article explores the changes in the dynamics of cattle ownership termed Neo-pastoralism as a possible explanation for the increase in armed clashes between the groups. The article explains how traditional pastoralism is gradually giving way to neo-pastoralism, a form of pastoralism which involves larger herds and increased use of arms and ammunitions. The case study of Nigeria is used to explore these new patterns of conflict due to having the largest number of cattle in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and the scale of the conflict in the country. This article is based on field research and interviews carried out in Nigeria between 2013 and 2019.

The Politics of Eco-violence: Why Is Conflict Escalating in Nigeria’s Middle Belt?

“…States' failures enable the emergence of ungoverned spaces that are conducive atmospheres for the proliferation of conflict (4,43,46). The proliferation of military-grade weapons fuels and elongates these conflicts (10,46). The Federal Government of Nigeria and some state governments' responses to eco-violence are prolonging these conflicts (33,36,66).…”

“…Studies have identified the activities of investors in commercial agriculture and the interests of the elites as critical factors shaping the recent upsurge of eco-violence (10,39,44). Rather than issues related to the climate, it is the elites' selfish interests that fuel conflict.…”

“…Eco-violence and cattle rustling have increased in recent years due to the emergence of neo-pastoralism (10). Neo-pastoralism is a type of large-scale cattle ownership by non-pastoralists who employ paid pastoralists who use automatic rifles to herd cattle across Nigeria, with the primary goal of laundering illicit funds and profit (10). The Fulani herders' persistence not to abandon open grazing discarding calls to adopt modern animal husbandry practices is a multiplier of ecoviolence (46).…”

“…Insecurity and the emergence of 'ungoverned spaces' are also fuelling these conflicts (4,43). Recently, corruption related to the vested interests of agro investors and elites has emerged as additional critical factors in the recent upsurge of ecoviolence (10,44); likewise, the framing, construction, and representation of people's lives and the conflicts over water and grazing fields (24,41,45). This article departs from those approaches to investigate how political developments in Nigeria's Middle Belt since 2014 have contributed to the escalation of eco-violence.…”

Enclaves of Banditry: Ungoverned Forest Spaces and Cattle Rustling in Northern Nigeria

“…This southward movement no longer holds out any respite for pastoralists and their cattle. Backlashes arising from the frequent bloody squabbles between pastoralists and host communities over access to grazing and farming lands in the context of growing poverty, high unemployment rates, and the lingering downturn in the economy result in increased cattle banditry and its attendant adversities (Kuna & Ibrahim 2015; Maiangwa 2017; Ajala 2018).…”