Herdsmen/Farmers Crisis: A Threat to Democratic Governance in Nigeria

Abstract

Herdsmen and farmers crisis have remained the most predominately resource-use crisis in Nigeria. The necessity to provide good governance has been hampering by the activities of herdsmen. The herdsmen/farmer crises have demonstrated high potential to exacerbate the insecurity in rural communities where most of the crises are localized, with reverberating repercussions nationwide. This study describes the relationship between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the incessant land crises witnessed in Nigeria and how it affects livelihood security of those involved and land sustainability for the local communities. The paper adopt structural functionalism as it theoretical framework in analyzing. The study concluded that there is the need to identify the causes, repercussions and proffered resolution of the critical issues that are at the roots of the herdsmen/farmers crisis. The paper recommended among other things ranching as the best way of cattle rearing.

Keywords: crisis, farmers, herdsmen, Good Governance and Democratic