Determinants of Indigenous Famers -Fulani Herdsmen Conflicts and Effects on Rural Communities in Awka North Cultural Area of Anambra State

Abstract

This study explored the core factors that determine the conflict between the killer herdsmen and indigenous farmers in rural communities in Awka cultural area of Anambra State. The work examined the effects of Fulani herdsmen violence on indigenous farmers in rural farming communities in Akwa North cultural areas. The study discovered that quest for protection and preservation of secured economic sources of livelihood, resource control and divergent values, imported Fulani Islamic fighters who quickly find their way out of the country once they accomplish their deadly jihadist mission, confrontations over damaged crops are followed by armed herders responding to the unarmed farmer’s anger with brutal violence,that Fulani terrorist herders have been destroying the indigenous farmer’s farms with their cattle, rapping their women and killing many farmers are at the core of the conflict. This study explored the core factors that determine the conflict between the killer herdsmen and indigenous farmers in rural communities in Awka cultural area of Anambra State. The work examined the effects of Fulani herdsmen violence on indigenous farmers in rural farming communities in Akwa North cultural areas. The study discovered that quest for protection and preservation of secured economic sources of livelihood, resource control and divergent values, imported Fulani Islamic fighters who quickly find their way out of the country once they accomplish their deadly jihadist mission, confrontations over damaged crops are followed by armed herders responding to the unarmed farmer’s anger with brutal violence,that Fulani terrorist herders have been destroying the indigenous farmer’s farms with their cattle, rapping their women and killing many farmers are at the core of the conflict. The major effects in rural economy abound, Urum, and Amanuke communities had their own confrontations with the armed Fulani herders who destroyed their farmlands when they invaded their farms with their cattle, rapping their women and in a bid to confront them, conflicts ensued resulting in the loss of lives and killing of many unarmed farmers, and willful destructions of properties worth millions of naira belonging to the indigenous farmer. Recommendations and suggestions were provided. The major effects in rural economy abound, Urum, and Amanuke communities had their own confrontations with the armed Fulani herders who destroyed their farmlands when they invaded their farms with their cattle, rapping their women and in a bid to confront them, conflicts ensued resulting in the loss of lives and killing of many unarmed farmers, and willful destructions of properties worth millions of naira belonging to the indigenous farmer. Recommendations and suggestions were provided.