Transboundary Migration and Herder-Farmer Conflicts in Nigeria

This study extensively examined transboundary migration and herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria. It specifically looks into how the frequent influx of migrants through the porous border led to the severity of violent conflicts between herders and farmers This transboundary migration are propelled by factors like competition for finite natural resources, weak governance, porous borders, and climate change. Cross-border migration posed a wider security consequences such as national instability, community tensions, rural insecurity and deaths of thousands of citizens. Documentary approach was used to acquire data for the study. To find trends, narratives, and institutional reactions to the herder-farmer issue, content analysis was used to examine secondary sources. The findings revealed that lack of effective regional migration policies, lax border restrictions, and the spread of small guns all contribute to transboundary migration’s substantial exacerbation of herder-farmer conflicts. The report emphasizes that although state-level anti-grazing legislation and security measures have been implemented, they have mostly been ineffective and reactive. It was recommended that in order to properly monitor and control cross-border movements, the government should improve immigration control and surveillance systems along Nigeria’s borders. Second, in order to govern transhumance and migration in a way that strikes a balance between mobility rights and national security concerns, regional cooperation is required to support multilateral agreements and coordination among West African nations under ECOWAS protocols.