Effectiveness Of Community Policing In The Management Of Farmers-Herders Conflict In Oyo South Senatorial District, Oyo State, Nigeria

The persistent farmers–herders conflict in Nigeria has exposed the limitations of conventional, state-centric policing, particularly in rural communities. This study examined the effectiveness of community policing in managing farmers–herders conflict in Oyo South Senatorial District, Oyo State. Adopting a mixed-methods research design, quantitative data were collected through 384 questionnaires administered to farmers, herders, community leaders, security personnel, vigilante groups, and civil organizations, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with selected stakeholders. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, alongside thematic analysis of interview responses. Findings reveal that community policing has contributed significantly to reducing the frequency and intensity of farmers–herders clashes through improved information sharing, enhanced community–police collaboration, timely response to threats and increased public trust in security agencies. However, its effectiveness is constrained by inadequate funding, insufficient training, institutional mistrust and weak coordination between formal and informal security actors. The study concludes that community policing remains a viable and sustainable conflict-management strategy when properly institutionalized supported and recommends strengthened community police partnerships, adequate resource allocation and the integration of local conflict dimensions into security planning to ensure lasting peace in rural Nigeria.