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