Farmer–herder clashes claim 3,000 lives in North Central — YADI

2026-03-03 - 15:57

Blames open grazing for violence Urges immediate implementation of ranching policy By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief ABUJA — Over 3,000 people were killed in clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s North Central region between 2018 and 2023, the Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) has said. The Programme Officer of YADI, Mr. Farouk Bala, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, citing findings referenced by the Centre for Crisis Communication and a 2024 report by the Nigerian Security Tracker. Mr. Bala attributed the persistent clashes to the continued practice of open grazing, adding that more than 300,000 people were displaced within the period under review. According to him, “For decades, Nigeria’s open grazing system has been a recurring source of tension between farmers and pastoralist herders. A study by the Nigerian Security Tracker (2024) revealed that between 2018 and 2023, an estimated 3,000 people lost their lives in farmer-herder clashes across the North-Central states, while over 300,000 people were displaced from their communities. “Furthermore, the 2024 Nigeria Watch Report documented that violence involving farmers and herders claimed about 567 lives across 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory within a single year.” He described the figures as a reflection of lives lost and communities disrupted, stressing that structured ranching is increasingly being recognised as a sustainable alternative to open grazing. “YADI reiterates the urgent need for the actualisation of a comprehensive and well-structured ranching system as a strategic pathway to economic diversification, agricultural modernisation, food security and enhanced national security,” he said. Mr. Bala commended the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to implement ranching reforms, noting that Kwara State has been selected as the pilot state for the initiative. Ranching ‘Not Optional’ The group argued that reforming Nigeria’s livestock sector is critical to economic revitalisation. According to Mr. Bala, the Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria’s livestock sector contributes over $32 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (2025–2030), the sector is projected to increase its contribution to between $74 billion and $94 billion within a decade if properly structured. He cited global examples, noting that Brazil recorded approximately $9.3 billion in beef exports in 2024, while the United States exported $7.2 billion worth of beef and Australia recorded about $8 billion in exports during the same period. Uruguay, he added, earned $2.85 billion from high-quality, traceable beef production. In contrast, he said Nigeria generated $172,000 from cow exports in 2024, $1.15 million from live animal exports in 2021, and less than $200,000 from meat and edible offal exports. “These figures underscore the vast economic potential being forfeited as a result of poorly structured and inefficient livestock management systems,” he said. Mr. Bala acknowledged resistance to ranching from some stakeholders, including herders concerned about losing traditional practices and farmers worried about land access. He, however, attributed such concerns to inadequate information, insisting that ranching would boost GDP, enhance food production, create jobs and increase foreign exchange earnings through beef and related exports. In a separate presentation, the Centre for Crisis Communication, in its January 2026 edition of the Independent Media Assessment of Critical Stakeholders, identified persistent farmer–herder conflicts—particularly across the North Central and parts of the North West—as a major driver of communal clashes during the period under review. Presenting the assessment, Research Fellow Mr. Mukhtar Madobi said many of the crises were triggered by disputes over farmland encroachment, destruction of crops and retaliatory attacks linked to open grazing practices. “The review notes that the continued reliance on open grazing remains a significant source of tension between farming and herding communities,” he said.