CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

One major problem confronting world peace today is the manifestation of conflicts in different dimensions across the globe. From Europe to America, Africa to Asia, conflicts are common phenomena (Marshall and Gurr, 2005 in Jeong, 2008). Conflict has been defined in different ways by different scholars. For instance, Ekong (2003) defined conflict as that form of social interaction in which the actors seek to obtain scarce reward by eliminating or weakening their contenders.

Folger et al. (2009) defined conflict as the interaction of interdependent people who perceive incompatible goals and interference from each other in achieving those goals. Gyong (2007) defined conflict as the struggle for dominance or control of one person or group by the other in such a way as to subjugate or even eliminate the opponent. Nigeria has experienced and is still experiencing conflicts of grave proportions among several ethnic and religious communities across the states.

These conflicts significantly vary in dimension, process and the groups involved. It was observed by Momale (2003) that, while some conflicts arise between same resource user group such as between one farming community and another, others occur between different user groups such as between herders and farmers or between foresters and farmers. Adisa (2012) observed that the farmers-herdsmen conflict has remained the most preponderant resource-use conflict in Nigeria.

According to Abbas (2009) a study of major sources of conflicts between the Fulani pastoralists (to be used interchangeably with “herders” or “herdsmen”) and farmers shows that land related issues, especially on grazing fields, account for the highest percentage of the conflicts. In other words, struggles over the control of economically viable lands cause more tensions and violent conflicts among communities.

Economic and social factors provoke violent conflicts continuously among the Fulani pastoralists and farmers. The variation and the intensity of the conflicts is largely depended on the nature and type of the user groups where the pastoralists graze. Most of these conflicts have constituted or contributed to serious threats to the means of survival and livelihoods of both the farmers and pastoralists and what both groups are tenaciously protecting. The conflicts (though provocative) over access rights to farmland and cattle routes (labi), have become ubiquitous and seems to have defied solutions (Abbas, 2009).

However, Coser (2000) has noted that, the inevitability of conflict in the claim for scarce resource is considered here as the bane for struggles over the inestimable value for land and its resource, with the claim for ownership and the claim for its position as a common resource. Nevertheless, the complex land use system that has changed markedly overtime has culminated in the present day tension and conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and host communities.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        Over the years, the issue of conflict between herders-farmer has been so unbearable and it is one issue that has been aching the economy. One of the problems leading to this conflict could be that the government pays no attention to the cry and plea of the affected citizens of the country. It could also be that there is no lasting solution that the government has come up with that will be able to take care of this challenging issue. Finally, several researches have been carried out on the herdsmen/farmers conflict but not even a single research has been carried out on audience perception of government response to herdsmen conflict. 

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

        The main aim of the study is to determine the effect of audience perception of government response to herders-farmers conflict. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to determine the causes of herdsmen and farmer conflicts.
2. to examine the audience perception on the extent of herdsmen-farmer conflicts in Nigeria.
3. to examine peoples view the efforts made by the federal government of Nigeria in the resolution of conflict in Nigeria.
4. to identify and describe the type of conflict resolution mechanisms employed by conflict management institutions.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS               

The study came up with research questions so as to ascertain the above stated objectives of the study. The research questions for the study are:

1. What are the causes of herdsmen and farmer conflicts?
2. What is the audience perception on the extent of herdsmen-farmer conflicts in Nigeria?
3. What are peoples view the efforts made by the federal government of Nigeria in the resolution of conflict in Nigeria?
4. What are the types of conflict resolution mechanisms employed by conflict management institutions?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:    government response to herdsmen-farmer conflict in Nigeria is very effective.

H1:         government response to herdsmen-farmer conflict in Nigeria is very poor.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY        

        The study on audience perception of government response to herders-farmers conflict will be of immense benefit to the entire government, farmers, herders and every other person in the country in the sense that it will enable the government to establish an institution/body that will take charge of the conflict that exist between the farmers and the herders, they might decide to set up a standard or rules such that anyone at fault can be severely punished which will act as a lesson to others. It will also enable the government to give listening ears to the cry of the masses concerning any pressing situation they might find themselves and to find a lasting solution to the problems. Finally the study will contribute to the existing body of literature and knowledge to this field of studies and basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on audience perception of government response is limited to herders-farmers conflict.

1.8   LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Audience         An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature, theatre, music, video games, or academics in any medium.

Perception      Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information, or the environment

Government    It is a means by which organizational policies are enforced, as well as a mechanism for determining policy.

Response        A reaction to something.

Herders   One who takes care of a large group of animals of the same type.

Farmer      Farmers are people who engage in agricultural activities such as farming with the primary objective of producing food and other cash crops either for subsistence consumption or for public consumption.

Conflict   Conflict is a form of strife that occurs between two or more persons or groups when as a result of disagreement.