RELIGION AS A TRANSFORMATIVE AGENT IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN FARMERS AND FULANI HERDERS IN NIGERIA

  • Gloria Adaeze Adichie Queen's University Belfast

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: This article aims to investigate the conflict between herders and farmers and the need to approach the problem from a religious perspective. The study aims to systematically examine the implications and necessity for interfaith mediation in resolving the dispute between farmers and herders in Nigeria.

Method/Methodology: A qualitative method was employed. As a component of qualitative research, an in-depth individual approach to the interview was adopted. Data were thoroughly analysed using a descriptive approach.

Findings: The study reveals that in a multi-religious country such as Nigeria, conflict is often linked to religion. The fear of fulanization has produced significant threats resulting in panic, unrest, attacks and counter attacks among Christian communities hosting Fulani herders in Nigeria. This shows that whenever religious sentiments are involved in a conflict, reprisal attacks are often fuelled. Faith-based mediation has been employed by religious actors/institutions to mediate the conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria. Yet, the dispute continues to escalate. Therefore, the study observes that faith-based actors often exclude civil society groups during mediation, thereby making faith-based mediation inadequate and inefficient in this context.

Conclusion and Recommendation: Many researchers who have sought to investigate the conflict between farmers and Fulani herders from a religious perspective have limited their investigations to religious tenets and teachings alone, excluding civil society organisations. However, this has become the bedrock of the problems with including religious leaders in peacebuilding. In this article, I argue that traditional and civil society groups should be integrated into the religious movement addressing the conflict between herders and farmers in Nigeria to achieve conflict transformation and reconciliation.

Keywords: religion, peacebuilding, conflict transformation, interfaith dialogue, farmers and Fulani herders.

Author Biography

Gloria Adaeze Adichie, Queen's University Belfast

MA Student of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice

References

Adekunle, O. A. & Adisa, S. R. (2010). ‘An empirical phenomenological psychological study of farmer-herdsmen conflicts in North-Central Nigeria.’ Journal of Alternative Perspectives in Social Sciences, 2 (1), 1-27.

Agha, A.U (2012) Religion and Culture in Permissive Society. Enugu: Idika Press.

Amnesty International (2018) Harvest of Death: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders in Nigeria. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/12/nigeria-government-failures-fuel-escalating-conflict-between-farmers-and-herders-as-death-toll-nears-4000/

Askerov, A. (2020) An Interdisciplinary Academic Field – Peace and Conflict Studies Theories of International Relations: Contemporary Debates and Approach.

Augsburg, T. (2016) ‘What is Interdisciplinary? Some Essential Definitions’ Becoming Interdisciplinary: An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies.

Blench, R. & Dendo, M. (2003). ‘The transformation of conflict between pastoralists and cultivators in Nigeria, in M. Moritz (Ed.),’ Journal Africa, United Kingdom: Cambridge.

Brewer, John D., Gareth Higgins and Francis Teeney (2010) ‘Religion and Peace-making: A Conceputalisation’, Sociology, 44(6): 1019-1037. Available at: https://journals-sagepub-com.queens.ezp1.qub.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1177/0038038510381608.

Chukwuemeka, E. E. O., Aloysius, A. & Eneh, M. I. (2018). ‘The logic of open grazing in Nigeria: interrogating the effect on sustaining development.’ International Journal of Family Business and Management Studies. 2(1), 1-17.

Deusch, S.P (2000) The Class of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order. New York: Simon Schuster.

Dickson, C. N & Musa, L. (2020) An Empirical Assessment of Herders and Farmers Conflict in Nigeria,20002017.Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341651048.

Ede, V.I (2020) ‘Religious Fanaticism and Security Challenges in Nigeria: Issues, Trends and Implications.’ Journal of African Studies and Development 3(5) 2630-7073.

Fasona, M. J. & Omojola, A. S. (2005). Climate change, human security and communal clashes in Nigeria, International Workshop in Human Security and Climate change, Holmen Fjord Hotel, Oslo, 3-13.

International Crisis Group. (2017). Herders against farmers: Nigeria’s expanding deadly conflict, Africa Report, 252.

International Religious Freedom (2018) Nigeria: Custom Report Excerpts. Available at: https://www.state.gov/report/custom/baea80d0e1/

IOM (2019) Regional Policies and response to manage pastoral movements within the ECOWAS region. Study on behalf of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), within the framework of the Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa Project, IOM, International Centre for Migration Policy Development and ECOWAS. Abuja, Nigeria.

Kmec, V. and Ganiel, G. (2019) ‘The Strengths and Limitations of the Inclusion of Religious Actors in Peace Processes in Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina’, International Negotiation, 24(1): 136-163. Available at: https://contentstore.cla.co.uk/secure/link?id=81904ce7-1ee6-ea11-80cd-005056af4099

Krätli, S, with Sougnabé, P, Staro, F and Young, H (2018) Pastoral systems in Dar Sila, Chad: a background paper for Concern Worldwide. Feinstein International Center, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Somerville, MA.

Kratli, S. and Toulmin (2020) Farmer-Herder Conflict in Sub-Sahara Africa? IIED: London. Available at: https://pubs.iied.org/10208IIED/

Mawoli, M.A & Adamu, A. (2020) ‘Solutions to Herder-Farmers Conflict in Nigeria: The Academic Perspective on Business Implications’ Journal of Business and Technopreneurship. 10(1) 101-112.

Musa, S.D, Shabu, T. & Igbawua, M.I (2014) ‘Resource Use Conflict between Farmers and Fulani Herdsmen in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.’ Journal of Basic and Applied Research International. 20(10).

Oludayo, T. (2020) Conflict Between Herders and Farmers: Nigeria Needs to Accept There are Victims on Both Sides. Available at: https://theconversation.com/conflict-between-herders-and-farmers-nigeria-needs-to-accept-there-are-victims-on-both-sides-141470.

Paden, J. (2015) ‘Religion and Conflict in Nigeria: Countdown to the 2015 Elections.’ United State Institute of Peace.

Raynaut, C (1997) Societies and nature in the Sahel. Routledge/SEI, London and New York.

Sandberg, R. (2018) ‘Clarifying the Definition of Religion Under English Law: The Need for a Universal Definition,’ Ecclesiastical Law Journal. Cambridge University Press, 20(2), pp. 132–157. Doi: 10.1017/S0956618X18000030.

Tonah, S. (2006). ‘Managing farmers-herders’ conflicts in Ghana`s Volta basin’. Ibadan journal of social sciences 4 (1): 33-45.

Toulmin, C (1983) Herders and farmers or farmer-herders and herder-farmers Overseas Development Institute Pastoral Network Paper 15d. ODI, London.

Trotta, S & Wilkinson, O. (2019) ‘Partnering with Local Faith Actors to Support Peaceful and Inclusive Societies. Washington DC; Bonn: Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities.’ International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD).

Turner, M. D and Hiernaux, P (2008) ‘Changing access to labour, pastures, and knowledge: the extensification of grazing management’ Sudano-Sahelian West Africa. Human Ecology 36(1): 59–80.

Umoh, N. R. (2017). ‘Pastoralism in Nigeria’s Middle-belt region: a resource or a curse?’ International Journal for Development and Economic Sustainability, 5(1), 11-30.

Published
2021-07-16
How to Cite
Adichie, G. A. (2021). RELIGION AS A TRANSFORMATIVE AGENT IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN FARMERS AND FULANI HERDERS IN NIGERIA. African Journal of Emerging Issues, 3(4), 58-69. Retrieved from https://ajoeijournals.org/sys/index.php/ajoei/article/view/191
Section
Articles