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Herder-Farmer Conflict and Internal Security Challenges in Benue State, Nigeria: An Appraisal of Government Responses, 2015-2025

Ugo, Christian Onochie

Abstract

This study appraised government responses to the herder-farmer conflict and associated internal security challenges in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025. The study identifies the multi-causal drivers of the conflict, ecological stress, land governance failures, demographic pressures, proliferation of small arms, criminality/banditry, and ethno-religious polarization. It maps the internal security implications for lives and property, forced displacement, food security, critical infrastructure, and civil-military relations. The appraisal examines federal and sub-national interventions including kinetic operations (e.g., Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Safe Haven), legislative and policy measures (e.g., anti-open grazing laws, the National Livestock Transformation Plan), judicial/justice initiatives, and dialogic/peace building arrangements. The study raised four research questions and four corresponding objectives, while the environmental scarcity and social conflict theory by T.F Homer - Dixon. Using an input-process-output-outcome framework and criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Relying exclusively on secondary data and qualitative methods through document analysis and thematic synthesis of policy papers, laws, official statements, security briefings, reputable think-tank reports, newspaper investigations, and open-source conflict datasets, findings show mixed performance: tactical successes without durable de-escalation; policy fragmentation across tiers of government; capacity, funding, and coordination deficits; politicization and community mistrust; and uneven adoption of livestock reforms. The study recommended inter alia a coherent national livestock transition strategy, integrated land-use planning, professionalized community security governance, restorative justice, and climate-resilient livelihoods. It contributes to scholarship on complex communal violence and offers actionable insights for policy.

Keywords

Herder-farmer conflictinternal securityGovernment Reponseslivestock policyanti-open grazing

References

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