Open Grazing Issues in Nigeria

By- Jude ikumapayi

The issue of herdsmen-farmers crisis in Nigeria and some parts of West Africa has been a
lingering one that is very disturbing. The uniqueness of this scenario could be traced from
the historical perspective of their existence where tolerance and coexistence was a cheap
affair.1 At the wake of 2000, this interdependence has increasingly deteriorated due to the
changing demography, climate variability, scarcity of natural resources, and socio-political
manipulation. As a result, violent confrontation has become a major defining feature of their
interactions.2

In Nigeria, clashes between the two parties became intensified after some state governments
approved the anti-open grazing law3. The country’s security situation has become very acute
and there is a growing attention for incidents of incessant bloody clashes between the Fulani
herdsmen and local farmers in Nigeria. This development has become a subject of security
concern and public debate. The federal government of Nigeria has responded by deploying
security operatives to search and neutralize the forces of the armed Fulani herdsmen 4.
Although this policy response has recorded some success, the root causes of the clashes have
not been sufficiently addressed.

According to Chukwueche (2017) “the fact still remains that these nomadic herdsmen care
less about land ownership because they are always on the move.” The nomads usually
embark on seasonal migrations from the North to the South; this movement has become an
all season’s affair5. Nigeria as a country has a huge population majority of which are farmers
with at least a fair population of migrant herders who pasture across the country. This
situation escalates due to the porous nature of Nigerian borders and poor immigration
surveillance, especially in Northern part of the country6 . Farmers maintain their livelihood
on a subsistence basis. This implies that any threat to their crops or cattle is a direct threat to
their sources of survival, which forces both sides to vehemently protect their own sources of
livelihood7 .

The level of intolerance among the herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria has deteriorated to
unimaginable level of arms struggle resulting in countless deaths among villagers with the
attendant reduction in the population of the peasant farmers8. Hence, it is important to note

1
Gbaden Jacob Chiakaan , Gibson Pwashikai, Yough Gabriel Alyegba, Esther Nkechinyere Nweze 2019
Managing the Herdsmen-famers Crisis in Nigeria: The Public Relations Approach
2
Alhassan U. B. (2013), Herdsmen and farmers conflicts in North-Eastern Nigeria: Causes, repercussions and
resolutions. Academic journal of interdisciplinary studies, 2(5).
3
Olasunkanmi Akoni & Gabriel Olawale 2021, Sanwo-Olu signs anti-open grazing bill into law, Sanwo-Olu
signs anti-open grazing bill into law Sanwo-Olu signs anti-open grazing bill into law (vanguardngr.com)
4
Opejobi, Seun 2016. Buhari has no solution to Fulani herdsmen/farmers crises – Zakari. Daily Post.
http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/20/buhari-no-solution-fulaniherdsmenfarmers-crises-zakari/
5
Chukwueche, F. K. (2017). The demographic implications of nomadic herdsmen and farmers clashes in
Nigeria. International journal of development and management review (INJODEMAR), 12(1).
6
Ibid
7
Kwaja, C. M. & Bukola, I. A. (2017). The implications of the open grazing prohibition & ranches establishment
law on farmer-herders relations in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
that these violent clashes have direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of those involved
and lead to the displacement of economic productive population of the community 9.

Political and social underpinnings have instilled a deeply-seeded hostility, fear, and
reproach towards perceived aggressors. So, when conflict is triggered between the two
groups, for instance, cattle damage crops or cultivated farm lands block grazing routes —
the resulting tensions often descend into cycles of revenge attacks based on ethno-religious
identity10.

Amnesty International claims that more than 1,531 people died in inter-communal violence
mostly between herdsmen and farming communities11 Reports in recent times have shown
that Fulani militants are the forth deadliest militant group in the world with a record killing
of about 1229 people in recent time12.

With cases of herdsmen killing and scaring farmers from cultivating crops in most parts of
the country where food production is high, it is an indication that the country is drifting into
a situation where famine, if care is not taken, will soon be the order of the day 13.

Conflict between herdsmen and farmers has been in Nigeria since many years ago. The
recent crisis between these two agriculturalists has, however, been more worrisome than the
previous ones. Mass and social media should be employed effectively in sensitizing herders
particularly on the need to engage in modern methods of rearing cattle in ranches. There is
need for government, non-governmental organizations and well-meaning individuals to
embark on radical campaigns aimed at achieving peace and unity between farmers and
herdsmen. This can open the eyes of both to realize their importance to the economy and
growth of Nigeria.

8
Gbaden Jacob Chiakaan , Gibson Pwashikai, Yough Gabriel Alyegba, Esther Nkechinyere Nweze 2019
Managing the Herdsmen-famers Crisis in Nigeria: The Public Relations Approach
9
Okoli, A. I. C. & Atelhe, G. A. (2014). Nomads against Natives: A Political ecology of herder/farmer conflicts in
nasarawa state, Nigeria. American international journal of contemporary research, 4(2).
10
Kwaja, C. M. & Bukola, I. A. (2017). The implications of the open grazing prohibition & ranches establishment
law on farmer-herders relations in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.
11
Amnesty International Report 2020/21 Amnesty International Report 2020/21: The state of the world's
human rights - Amnesty International
12
Global Terrorism Index, 2017
13
Kwaja, C. M. & Bukola, I. A. (2017). The implications of the open grazing prohibition & ranches establishment
law on farmer-herders relations in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.