Beyond the Loss of Lives and Properties: Uncovering the Impacts of Land Conflict in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Land is a source of human identity, a means of livelihood and an agent of economic growth and development, especially in rural areas where the customary land-tenure system is still practised. Despite its significance, its usage sometimes leads to competition and results in land conflicts, with impacts that extend beyond the loss of lives and properties. This study adopted a mixed-method of data collection complemented by reports from the Oyo State Technical Committee on Administrative Boundary Conflicts, the National Boundary Commission, and Nigeria Watch (IFRANigeria), which served as secondary data. For the data analysis, the researchers undertook thematic, narrative, mean ranking, and principal component analyses. The findings show that beyond loss of lives and properties, land conflict leads to sour relationships, age-long hostilities, tenure insecurity, termination of peaceful coexistence, and loss of cultural heritage, among others. Often leading to new conflicts, these impacts are more grievous and are evident in individual households, families, communities, and the country’s economy. After identifying the social, cultural, market and governance impacts of land conflicts, the researchers offer insights for designing a framework for land-conflict management that would be useful for government and other stakeholders.