1OTAIDA Eikojonwa&2YUSUFU Ahmed Audu
1Department of Political Science
Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State-Nigeria
2Department of Political Science
Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State-Nigeria
Corresponding Author’s E-mail:eotaida@mnager
Abstract
Climate change has resulted in desertification and depletion of ecological resources such as land and water preciously needed for crop farming and herding purposes. Increase in dryness in northern region contrasts with seeming wetness in the southern region therefore stimulates transhumance of nomads to the southern region in order to exploit grazing opportunities for their livestock. Intensified migration of herders as a result of land and water resource scarcity results to violent confrontations with sedentary crop farmers with concomitant consequences of loss of human and animal lives, permanent disability of victims, forced internal displacement of victims and impaired farmer-herder relations. This paper therefore interrogates the nexus between climate change, farmer-herder conflict and security challenge in Benue State of Nigeria between 2015 and 2022. Methodologically, the paper employed primary and secondary methods of data collection while theoretically the paper deployed eco violence theory as its framework of analysis. Research hypotheses were tested using non-parametric statistics (chi-square) at 5% level of significance. Findings reveal a significant relationship between climate change and farmer-herder conflict. The study also found a significant relationship between farmer-herder conflict and security challenge. The paper therefore recommends a multi-dimensional approach in the management of farmer-herder conflict in Benue State.
Citation of article: Otaida, E., et al (2022)Interrogating the Links between Climate Change, Farmer-Herder Conflict and Security Challenge in Benue State, Nigeria. African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies (AJPAS), 15(1):176-192
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