TY  - JOUR
T1  - Contradictions of State-Building in Nigeria: The Link Between Arable and
Pastoral Farmer’s Conflict and Economic Development in
Benue State, Nigeria by
AU - Nneka Ifeoma, Okafor AU - Michael, Abada Ifeanyichukwu AU - Hezekiah Paul, Omeh 
JO  - Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
VL  - 14
IS  - 24
SP  - 9740
EP  - 9744
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1816-949x
DO  - jeasci.2019.9740.9744
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2019.9740.9744
KW  - diplomacy
KW  -development
KW  -conflict
KW  -Cattle route
KW  -labour force
KW  -adequate policing
AB  - The recent phenomenal attacks by herders on the sedentary farmers had taken a new paradigm shift
thereby altering the existing social relations between arable farmers and pastoral herders. Thus, Benue State
has been the most target population that had received its portion of damage on farms and death toll of her
population, especially, the labour force. The most worrisome is the inadequate attention paid by Nigerian
government and Benue State in curtailing the viral attacks. However, the focus of this study sets to examine
the nature and contradictions of conflicts between Fulani-herders and arable-indigenous farmers, implication
of unhealthy relations between sedentary and pastoral farmers on economic growth and development in Benue
State. Methodologically, the study appropriated mixed method approach and data were generated through the
primary sources of data collection. The study also utilized participatory research and focus group discussion
and in-depth interview. The sample size of 340 farmers was purposively chosen from the population of farmers
from three selected local governments in Benue State which were affected by the attacks. The theoretical
framework of analysis for the study was anchored on the theory of protracted social conflict as propounded by
Edward Azar. The findings of the study revealed that the struggle for limited natural resources (pasture ranges)
had heightened the intense of conflicts, reduction of incomes accruable to farmers and problem of food security
for human sustenance. Therefore, the study recommends among others; reforestation and utilization of Sambisa
forests and strengthening of the local securities and institutions for adequate policing.
ER  -