The Impact of Herdsmen Crisis and Food Security in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the herdsmen crisis and food security in Benue State. The specific objectives included assessing the impact of insecurity on food availability in Benue State, examining the effects of farmer displacement on food production in Benue State, and evaluating the extent to which disability and the death of farmers affect access to food in Benue State. This study applied a qualitative methodology. The study employed a variety of sources to gather secondary data, which helped to examine the causes and impact of the crisis. The findings revealed the positive association between the availability of food and insecurity, the stability of food supply and displacement of people, as well as the availability of food and disability and death in Benue State. Recommendations are as follows: strong political will from governments at all levels is fundamental to resolving the herdsmen crisis in Benue State and across the country; there should be an establishment and operation of contemporary grazing reserves in the affected states; and the government should set up crisis mediation, resolution, reconciliation and peace-building mechanisms in rural communities, local government areas and states affected by the crisis.

Keywords: herdsmen, food production, food availability, food accessibility, food security