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Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Project Topics

Change to Media and Management of Conflicts in Nigeria: A Case Study of Farmers-Herders Conflicts

Change to Media and Management of Conflicts in Nigeria: A Case Study of Farmers-Herders Conflicts

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Change to Media and Management of Conflicts in Nigeria: A Case Study of Farmers-Herders Conflicts

Chapter One

Objectivesย of theย Study

The study aims to examine government strategies for addressing the farmers-herdsmen crisis. The specific objectives of the study were to;

  1. Find out the nature of the farmers and herdsmen conflict in Nigeria;
  2. Ascertain the various causes of the conflict as provided by both groups in the conflict;
  3. Assess the mediaโ€™s role in addressing the farmers-herdsmen conflict in Nigeria; and
  4. Find out what gaps exist in mediaโ€™s conflict management responses in the crisis

CHAPTER TWOย 

LITERATUREย REVIEW

Conceptualย Review

ย Arable Croppingย System

According to Lambrou and Laub (2006), 75 per cent of todayโ€™s food comes from 12 arable crops and five animal species, with just three arable crops (rice, maize and wheat) accounting for about 60ย perย centย ofย theย caloriesย andย proteinsย obtainedย fromย plants.ย Worldwide,ย arableย cropsย enjoyย remarkable dominance, playing significant roles in the socioeconomic lives of both rural and urbanย peoples (Lambrou and Laub 2006). Arable crops include a wide range of annual crops of primaryย importanceย suchย asย maize,ย rice,ย sorghum,ย millet,ย cassava,ย cowpea,ย wheat,ย soybeans,ย melon,ย groundnutย yam, and vegetables and so on. In Nigeria, the production of arable crops is essentially the prominentย feature of agricultural activities. Indeed, almost all farmers in Nigeria cultivate one or more arableย cropsย forย foodย and income.

According to Fayinka (2004), Nigerian agricultural production is dominated by rural-based small scale arable crop producers, who account for about 80% of total food requirement. In a study on production of some major arable crops in Nigeria, revealed that the average farm size in arable crop production was 4.58 ha.

Centralย Bankย ofย Nigeria,ย CBN,ย (2005)ย reportedย thatย 36.25ย andย 82.41ย millionย hectaresย ofย arableย cropsย wereย cultivatedย inย 2004ย andย 2005ย respectively.ย Theย CBNย reportย furtherย statedย thatย productionย ofย arableย cropsย increasedย fromย 88.3millionย tonesย inย 2001ย toย 111.8ย millionย tonnesย inย 2005.ย Byย farย theย mostย widelyย grownย arable cropย inย Nigeriaย isย maize, accountingย forย 6.6 andย 7.5ย millionย hectaresย inย 2004ย andย 2005 respectively. Maize is grown almost in every part of the country. Most arable crop farmers relyย on rainfall to produce, with farming activities normally beginning as soon as the onset of rains. Apartย fromย beingย veritableย sourcesย ofย incomeย forย farmers;ย arableย cropsย areย processedย intoย otherย usefulย itemsย atย industrial and household levels.

Cattleย Herdingย System

Herdsmen are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralist whose primary occupation is raisingย livestockย forย commercialย purposes.ย Inย Nigeria,ย cattleย herdingย isย arguablyย dominatedย byย theย Fulaniย tribe.ย Iro (1994) and Abbass (2012) gave a vivid documentation of the herding system of the Fulani inย Nigeria and found out that the optimum Fulani cattle herd size lies between 80 and 100. With aย preponderanceย ofย femaleย overย maleย atย ratioย 4:1;ย theย Fulaniย alsoย maintainsย aย balancedย functionalย speciesย compositionย ofย cowย rearingย thatย isย madeย upย ofย โ€˜beefers,ย milkers,ย breeders,ย carriers,ย andย stockย beautifiersโ€™. Having raised livestock for centuries, the Fulani have evolved a herding system thatย withstandsย time,ย weather,ย socialย change,ย andย governmentย interventionย (Okeke,ย 2014;ย Rashid,ย 2012).

Thoughย mostย Fulaniย menย herdย cattleย wellย passย theย middleย age,ย herdingย isย dominatedย byย youths,ย while decisions about grazing are mainly made by the elderly family members (Okoli and Atelhe,ย 2013). Tenuche and Ifetimehi (2006) however revealed that the Fulani herdsman makes excellent useย of sign language, the cane and verbal command to drive the animals, with faster animals occupyingย the front rows. The movement of the Fulani over the years has led to a pastoral calendar in which theย locationย andย theย grazingย habitsย of theย Fulaniย canย be predictedย (Iro, 1994).ย Duringย migration,ย a typicalย herdย consistingย ofย severalย familyย unitsย moveย inย aย columnย ofย upย toย fiveย metersย wideย andย twoย kilometresย longย (Odohย and Chigozie, 2012).

Odoh and Chigozie (2012) further observed that most Fulani herdsmen do not have their own grazing land for their livestock and so move from place to place in search of green areas. Describing the annual herding cycle of the Fulani, Iro (1994) as well as Enete and Amusa (2010) stated that the herding season begins with southward movement of the herd along rivers and stream valleys from October to December โ€“ marking the end of rainy season and beginning of dry season. January to February is the harmattan season that is characterized by longer grazing hours, herd splitting, and more frequent visits to stable water sources (Enete and Amusa, 2010). These thus increase southward movement of the herds. The months of March and April are usually the toughest for the herdsman and his cattle, as it is the hottest period in the grazing calendar. As such, the herdsmen now herd their cattle only in the evening and nights.

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Furthermore, Odoh and Chigozie (2012) and Rashid (2012) opine that the month of May andย June signifies the end of dry season which also marks the beginning of northward movement of cattleย herds. From this period up till September, which is the peak of rainy season, though characterized byย cattle-breeding,ย moreย milkย productionย andย shorterย grazingย hours,ย cattleย herdingย coincidesย significantlyย withย arableย cropย production.ย Farmer-herdsmenย conflictย thereforeย becomesย prevalentย duringย thisย periodย (Rashid,ย 2012).

 

CHAPTERย THREE

CASESย OFย FARMERS ANDย HERDSMENย CLASHESย INย NIGERIA

ย Introduction

The crisis between the farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria is one that has been characterized byย violence which has led to loss of lives, properties and means of livelihood not only for the partiesย involved but also for members of the community in which the clashes took place. In a report recentlyย released by Amnesty International, it was claimed that the farmers and herdsmen crises in Nigeria inย the last three years had led to the death of 3,641 people and the displacement of thousands moreย (Amnesty International, 2018). This chapter would contain cases of clashes between farmers andย herdsmenย inย variousย statesย ofย Nigeriaย asย reportedย byย newspapersย andย otherย sources.ย Theย statesย withย theย mostย prominent cases of clashesย includeย Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.

Casesย ofย Farmersย andย Herdsmenย Clashesย in Nigeriaย 

Theย farmersย andย herdsmenย crisisย hasย ledย toย aย lotย ofย clashesย acrossย theย variousย statesย ofย Nigeria.

Theย caseย of clashesย has reported byย newspapers,ย articles and reportsย areย enumerated below.

CHAPTER FOURย 

FINDINGSย ANDย DISCUSSION

Introduction

The farmers-herdsmen conflict in Nigeria has grown spread and intensified over the pastย decadeย andย todayย poseย aย threatย toย nationalย survival.ย Thousandsย ofย peopleย haveย beenย killed,ย communitiesย have been destroyed and so many farmers and pastoralists have lost their lives and property in anย extended orgy of killings and destruction that is not only continuously destroying livelihoods but alsoย affecting national cohesion. This chapter covers the presentation of findings from secondary sources.ย Also,ย discussionsย areย doneย centredย aroundย theย objectivesย ofย thisย studyย whichย include;ย theย natureย ofย theย farmers and herdsmen conflict in Nigeria, the identified causes of the farmers and herdsmen conflictย in Nigeria, mediaย role in addressing the farmers and herdsmen conflict in Nigeria and the gapsย thatย exist in mediaย responses to theย conflict.

CHAPTERย FIVE

SUMMARY,ย CONCLUSIONย ANDย RECOMMENDATION

Summary

The study provides an in-depth analysis of the role of media in addressing the ongoing Farmers-Herders conflict in Nigeria, which has been a significant source of tension, violence, and displacement in the country. The conflict is primarily driven by competition for scarce resources such as land, water, and grazing rights, as well as political, economic, and environmental factors.

The study highlights the crucial role that media can play in promoting peaceful coexistence and resolving the conflict. The media has the power to shape public opinion, influence policy, and mobilize communities for peacebuilding initiatives. By engaging in responsible reporting, promoting peacebuilding initiatives, raising awareness, and mobilizing public support, the media can contribute to a more informed, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding process.

Responsible reporting is essential in promoting a balanced, accurate, and objective representation of the conflict. The media can play a critical role in providing context and background information to help the public understand the underlying causes and dynamics of the conflict. This is especially important in a highly polarized and politicized environment where the conflict is often portrayed in terms of ethnic, religious, and regional biases.

The media can also promote peacebuilding initiatives by highlighting successful examples of conflict resolution and by amplifying the voices of local communities, civil society organizations, and conflict resolution experts. The media can serve as a platform for dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation by facilitating constructive communication and building trust between different stakeholders.

Raising awareness and mobilizing public support is another crucial role that media can play in addressing the Farmers-Herders conflict. The media can help educate the public about the impact of the conflict on individuals, families, and communities, as well as on the wider society. By raising awareness, the media can mobilize public support for peacebuilding initiatives and help create a sense of urgency for resolving the conflict.

The media can also hold stakeholders accountable by reporting on their actions and policies and by exposing any violations of human rights, the rule of law, or democratic principles. By doing so, the media can help ensure that the peacebuilding process is transparent, participatory, and accountable to the public.

However, the study also identifies some gaps in the media’s response to the Farmers-Herders crisis. These gaps can limit the effectiveness of the media in promoting peaceful coexistence and resolving the conflict. These gaps include the lack of balanced reporting, limited coverage of underlying causes, neglect of community voices, limited diversity of sources, and the lack of follow-up and monitoring.

Addressing these gaps is essential for promoting a more informed, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding process. The media can bridge these gaps by engaging in balanced reporting, providing comprehensive coverage of underlying causes, amplifying community voices, diversifying sources, and engaging in follow-up and monitoring. By doing so, the media can contribute to a more informed, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding process.

Conclusion

the study highlights the critical role that media can play in addressing the ongoing Farmers-Herders conflict in Nigeria. By engaging in responsible reporting, promoting peacebuilding initiatives, raising awareness and mobilizing public support, and holding stakeholders accountable, the media can contribute to a more informed, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding process.

The study also identifies some gaps in the media’s response to the crisis, including the lack of balanced reporting, limited coverage of underlying causes, neglect of community voices, limited diversity of sources, and the lack of follow-up and monitoring. Addressing these gaps is essential for promoting a more informed, inclusive, and sustainable peacebuilding process.

Overall, the study emphasizes the need for the media to take an active role in promoting peace and addressing conflict in Nigeria. The media has the power to shape public opinion, influence policy, and mobilize communities for peacebuilding initiatives. By doing so, the media can contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

Recommendation

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made:

Encouraging Responsible Reporting: Media organizations should prioritize responsible reporting by ensuring that their journalists adhere to professional standards of accuracy, fairness, and balance. This should include providing training to journalists and editors on conflict-sensitive reporting.

Providing Comprehensive Coverage: The media should provide comprehensive coverage of underlying causes, dynamics, and consequences of the conflict, including the perspectives of all affected parties. This will enable the public to have a deeper understanding of the conflict and the steps needed for resolution.

Amplifying Community Voices: Media organizations should give voice to local communities, civil society organizations, and conflict resolution experts who have a direct stake in the conflict. This will help to build trust and foster a sense of ownership of the peacebuilding process.

Diversifying Sources: The media should seek out a variety of sources, including those from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, to provide a balanced representation of the conflict. This will help to avoid stereotyping and promote a more nuanced understanding of the conflict.

Engaging in Follow-up and Monitoring: The media should engage in follow-up and monitoring of the peacebuilding process to hold stakeholders accountable and ensure transparency and inclusivity. This will enable the media to report on the progress made towards resolving the conflict and highlight any setbacks or violations of human rights.

Collaborating with Other Stakeholders: The media should collaborate with other stakeholders, including civil society organizations, religious leaders, and government agencies, to support peacebuilding initiatives. This will help to create a broader platform for dialogue, reconciliation, and social cohesion.

Ensuring Safety and Security: Media organizations should prioritize the safety and security of their journalists and staff, particularly in conflict-affected areas. This will enable them to report on the conflict without fear of reprisals and contribute to the peace-building process.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Abbass, I. (2012). No Retreat No Surrender Conflict for Survival between Fulani pastoralists andย Farmersย in Nothern Nigeria. European Scientific.ย 8(1).
  • Abbass, I. (2012). No Retreat No Surrender Conflict for Survival between Fulani pastoralists andย Farmersย in Nothern Nigeria.ย European Scientific,ย 8(1).
  • ACAPS.ย (2017).ย Nigeria Farmer-Fulaniย Herder Violenceย in Benue,ย Kaduna andย Plateau States.
  • Akenzua, O. (2017, December 30). Three feared killed in fresh Delta herdsmen attacks. Retrievedย February 3, 2019, from The Guardian: https://guardian.ng/news/three-feared-killed-in-fresh-ย delta-herdsmen-attacks/
  • Akinyemi, D. (2017, March 21). 4 die in Kwara farmers, herdsmen clash. Retrieved 02 03, 2019,ย from Vanguard: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/4-die-kwara-farmers-herdsmen-ย clash/
  • Alhassan, U. (2013). Herdsmen and Farmers Conflicts in North-Eastern Nigeria: Causes,ย Repercussionsย andย Resolutions. Academicย Journalย ofย Interdisciplinaryย Studies,ย 2(5).
  • Aliuna, G. (2018). Four killed in fresh herdsmen, farmersโ€™ clash in Ebonyi. Ebonyi: The Daily Post.ย Alu,ย A. (2017, March 22).ย Fulani Herdsmen In Ekiti; Theirย Manyย Attacks,ย Attempted Solutions.
  • Retrieved February 2, 2019, from kapital929: https://kapital929.fm/fulani-herdsmen-ekiti-ย many-attacks-attempted-solutions/
  • Amnesty International. (2018). Harvest of Death: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmersย andย Herders. Nigeria.

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