Abstract
How does interaction between the variables of ethnicity, farmer–herder conflict, and nation-building impact the Nigerian state? This question formed the major puzzle which this study intended to solve, and appeared an interesting analysis, especially in the wake of the many clashes that have been experienced in the recent past between groups of farmers and herders in many communities in the “Giant of Africa.” The study was undertaken using the descriptive survey design; secondary data were sourced from texts, journal articles, and other publications that were of relevance to the subject matter under investigation. The study found that there was not sufficient literature that interrogated the mutual reinforcement of the variables of ethnicity, farmer–herder conflicts, and nation-building, and their implications for sustainable peace and development in developing African state generally and Nigeria in particular. The study also found that ethnicity significantly complicates the conflicts between farmers and herders, and negatively affects nation-building efforts, especially in Nigeria. The study concluded that nation-building in Nigeria must pay attention to the implications of ethnicity particularly on farmer–herder conflicts, along with other such issues. The study recommended that deliberate effort should be made by media and educational institutions to enlighten Nigerians against irrational ethnic sentiments, and government should pay attention to the ethnic dimensions of farmer–herder conflicts in Nigeria.
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Ogu, M.I. (2022). Ethnicity, Farmer–Herder Conflicts, and Nation-Building in Nigeria. In: Oloruntoba, S.O. (eds) The Political Economy of Colonialism and Nation-Building in Nigeria. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73875-4_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73875-4_14
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