RELIGIOUS COLORATION OF HERDSMEN AND CROP-FARMERS CRISES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

A long-running internecine conflict between Crop-farmers and Herdsmen is increasingly assuming a dangerous dimension for human security in Nigeria. The limited access to land, climate change, and population growth, among other factors, have created a fertile ground for a fierce competition between the two livelihood groups in Nigeria. This situation has resulted to irreparable loss of human and material resources needed for social integration, political and economic development of the country. Also, the conflict between the two warring groups has shortchanged Nigeria, as the country expends millions of naira to manage the menace at this critical period of economic recession, when the country is working assiduously to diversify the economy. However, it is observed that religious coloration of herdsmen/crop-farmers’ violence in Nigeria has not been given adequate attention by researchers, scholars and even governments, this development has consequences on the social integration and the development of the country. This paper therefor eexamines the implications of religious coloration of Herdsmen/Crop-farmers crises and the challenges it poses to social integration and economic fortune of Nigeria. The work adopts the method of Social media, journal articles, books, newspaper and magazine to elicit information. It established that herdsmen/crop-farmers violence does not only undermine the security system, but also threatens peaceful coexistence among Nigerians. The paper therefore recommends that there is need for the pastoralists and crop-farmers to see one another as team-players and needed stakeholders in federal government’s aspiration and efforts to achieve economic prosperity for the country through the diversification of her economy, and most especially, through agriculture. Security operatives too need to be proactive and remain apolitical in order to be able to mitigate the numerous security challenges bedeviling Nigerian society.