CONTENDING PERSPECTIVES AND SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF HERDSMEN ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper submits that there exist multiple dimensions through which herdsmen attack in Nigeria could be perceived. Though traditionally seen as violence anchored on resource conflict, the attacks inhibit acts of terror and in some instances, religious extremism. Also, the word farming was substituted for the phrase “farming communities” because victims of herdsmen attacks are all not farmers. Importantly, this paper emphasizes the word “herdsmen” in place of the popular and ethnically charged phrase “Fulani- herdsmen” because, although predominantly of Fulani stock, not all herdsmen are ethnic Fulani. There is a perception that the rising state of these attacks is nothing other than a conspiracy by some influential forces within the country, and in the opinion of others the attacks embeds acts of criminality. This paper argues that beyond the perception of resource conflict, issues of terrorism, religious extremism, conspiracies and criminality are but new perspectives with which herdsmen attacks in Nigeria could be understood; and within these perspectives lie various security challenges that require multiple strategic solutions. The researchers consulted several secondary and tertiary sources, especially newspaper reports.