Causes and Impact of Farmers-Pastoralist’ Conflict in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State, North Eastern Region, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the nature of conflict between pastoralists and farmers in Fika Local Government Area, Yobe State, North-East Nigeria.It also examines how itinerant grazing by pastoralists in the area has created significant problems to farmers resulting into constant skirmishes and conflicts that more often than not, escalate into violence with people on both sides killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed leading to reduction in revenue of the State. The paper identifies climate change, government inaction and population growth as the push factors behind the conflict. Findings in the study revealed that some of the issues that underpin conflicts between the two groups emanate directly from the way and manner the pastoralists carry out grazing activities in the communities in the Local Government Area. The work finally recommends that state government should demarcate all grazing reserves in the state and register all the pastoralists, that a special tribunal should be formed for summary trial of encroachers on farm land.