NIGERIA’S STATE AND THE RESURGE OF FARMERS – HERDERS CONFLICT: A STUDY OF BENUE STATE (2024 - 2025)

The study examined Nigeria’s State and the Resurge of Farmers-Herders Conflict: a study of Benue State (2024 - 2025). The objectives of the study were to examine the prevalence and patterns of farmers–herders conflict, identify and analyze the underlying socio-economic, political, and environmental factors contributing to the resurgence of the conflict, assess the effectiveness of government interventions in addressing and managing the conflict and propose propose sustainable strategies for promoting peaceful coexistence between farming and herding communities in Benue State. The theoretical framework used in this research is the General Strain theory. While the research design employed was the Descriptive Research Design in carrying out a longitudinal study where repeated observations were made on the resurge of farmers – herders conflicts in Benue State, so as to make objective observations and achieve significant results. Based on the analysis, the study revealed that between 2024 and 2025, farmers–herders conflict in Benue State remained prevalent, following cyclical patterns of violent outbreaks concentrated during the dry season when herders migrate southward in search of pasture, leading to clashes over farmland. This resurgence is driven by interconnected socio-economic, political, and environmental factors, including competition over scarce resources due to climate change, economic hardship, deep-rooted ethno-religious mistrust, weak enforcement of anti-open grazing laws, and political manipulation of local grievances. Government interventions at both federal and state levels, while visible in forms such as military deployment, community dialogues, and relief aid, were found to be inconsistent, reactive, and hampered by poor coordination, inadequate funding, and lack of grassroots trust, thus limiting their long-term impact. Hence, it was recommended amongst others that the government should establish well-equipped, permanent peace and security hubs in high-risk LGAs like Guma, Gwer West, Logo, and Agatu, ensuring they are staffed with trained mediators and rapid-response units; this can be achieved by integrating local vigilante groups into formal security structures under clear legal frameworks to ensure timely, community-informed interventions.