DETERRENCE AS VIABLE TOOL FOR MANAGING FARMER-HERDER CONFLICT IN NORTH–CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

The research is centered on security management strategies and techniques through relevant government institutions, local peace structures in managing the perennial conflict between farmers and herders in North-Central Nigeria. The survey research design was used as Technique. while Multi-stage purposive sampling technique was used to select three (3) States which include Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa States, out of the six (6) States in North-Central Nigeria. The second stage was the selection of two local governments and political wards in each of the sampled States. The third stage was the selection of 500 participants from the affected communities of farmer-herder conflicting communities, with 495 retrieved and used. Deterrence theory was adapted as a framework of analysis. The study findings showed that investigation, prosecution and conviction are veritable instruments of managing farmer-herder conflicts. However, these tools more often than not are confronted with hurdles in their applications towards serving justice to culprits for a crime-free society. These takes the form of parties preferring to settle issues out of court. waste of time due to legal technicalities, the prosecution takes too long and overwhelming judiciary to effect punishment and management of those awaiting justice, thus, making the tools not viable enough to serve as a deterrent to potential culprits of farmlands and cattle related crimes and criminals in communities within the North-Central States of Nigeria. The study recommended intensified punishment for offenders and overhauled judiciary with established special court to focus on agro-allied matters to speed up justice dispensation.