FARMERS-HERDERS CONFLICTS IN NORTH CENTRAL GEO­ POLITICAL ZONE IN NIGERIA: KENYAN EXPERIENCE

The main objective of this paper is to examine the implications of restructuring the grazing system in Nigeria’s North-central geo-political zone and how this exercise will in turn guarantee peace and stability among crop-famers on the one hand, and pastoralists on the other. The high rate of devastations occasioned by frequent violent clashes between pastoralists and farmers and the level of destruction of lives and properties in most states around the North-central geo-political zones have been a major problem to meaningful socio-economic development. Some of the States such as Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa, have in recent times witnessed increased blood-bath, massive death and displacement of people due to clashes over grazing land. The study therefore sets out to interrogate some of these critical issues with the aim of bringing remedy to the region. The work submits that there is need to establish the Bureau for Land Administration in the affected states, and to ensure that cattle grazing is kept in strict check while recalcitrant herders are brought to book and punished where necessary. The paper is a theoretical analysis of existing works of scholars in the broader academic field of pastoralist studies. The paper relies on secondary sources as method of investigation. The paper came up with the conclusion and recommendations to the effect that grazing system requires the adoption of international best practices to bring about peace, mutual co-existence and stability in all its ramifications.