UNPACKING THE COMPLEXITIES AND CONTRADICTIONS IN FARMERS-HERDERS CONFLICTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY SECURITY IN OYO STATE

Abstract

Literature has revealed that there is a continuous farmers-herders conflict in many parts of Nigeria,
leading to the loss of lives and properties. In particular, Oyo State has witnessed intermittent conflict
between farmers and herders over cutthroat competition for land and water resources, which are the
main thrusts of the socio-economic survival of both parties. However, there is a dearth of knowledge
on the dichotomy of conflicting relations between farmers and herders on community security.
Therefore, this study investigated the security challenges of the incessant farmers-herders conflict and
recommended conflict transformation strategies to resolve the farmers-herders conflict in Oyo State.
Adopting a mixed research design, quantitative data were gathered by administering 550 copies of the
questionnaire, while 503 were retrieved. Consequently, 13 Key Informant Interviews (KII) and 6 Focus
Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted between September and November 2024. The quantitative
data were interpreted using percentages, while the interpretation of qualitative data was based on
content analysis. The findings of the study revealed security challenges of farmers-herders conflict in
Oyo State, among others were intolerance of both parties towards amicable use of agro and pastoral
resources 79%, overrating the economic value of cattle over farm produce by herders 76%, porous
border 60.7% access to arms and lethal weapons 66.5% and killing and maiming 72.3%. The study
concluded that the farmers-herders conflict has negatively affected community security in the study
area. The study recommends that a neighbourhood watch security approach be constituted and
traditional rulers repositioned to resolve farmers-herders conflicts in the study area