By Es Ufuoma
Nigeria’s agricultural sector has increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of a persistent and escalating conflict between farmers and nomadic herders. This dispute, rooted in competition over land and resources, has not only incited violence in rural communities but has also raised an urgent question: Is the farmers-herders crisis a genuine threat to Nigeria’s food security? For many farmers, the answer is a resounding yes.
In an interview with Mr. Moses Sadau, a smallholder farmer in Kakau, Kaduna South, the harsh realities of this conflict were discussed. Recounting his recent farming experience, Mr. Sadau described how herders allowed their cattle to roam unchecked into his farm, resulting in almost complete ruin of his harvest.
“After planting and during harvest time, the herders entered my farm and allowed their cows to stray in,” he said. “The cows destroyed and ate almost all the corn. They just ate the crops like grass. They trampled on and knocked down a lot of corn stalks, too.”
He added that just when he thought he was close to reaping the fruits of his labour, the situation worsened. “After farming, when it was time to harvest, the herders released their cattle again. The cattle entered and made a mess of the harvest, broke down corn, ate some, just destroyed everything. Very low yield. And people have been complaining about that kind of thing.”
But it wasn’t just corn. Mr. Sadau also shared a disturbing case of another farmer whose large yam plantation was wiped out, allegedly overnight, by unknown persons. “When he went to the farm, he discovered all the yams had been harvested on a large hectare. And these things happen at night when the farmer isn’t there.”
Such experiences, he noted, are becoming increasingly common and are discouraging rural farming efforts across the country.
From a policy perspective, Mr. Sadau advocates for local solutions in addition to government intervention. He believes the act of allowing animals to graze on another person’s farm is not just irresponsible but outright “wickedness.
“A Fulani man knows it’s someone’s farm, yet still lets cows enter,” he said. “There should be a structure like a farmers’ surveillance or security group. So, when a case like this happens, the farmer can report, and then that group will warn the herders and penalise them if needed. That’s my local level suggestion.”
He emphasised the difficulty of prevention without such structures, noting that most of these incidents occur at night when farms are unguarded.
Furthermore, Mr. Sadau pointed to the issue of insecurity in remote farmlands. According to him, even when farmers want to avoid shared lands and move further into isolated areas, they are exposed to banditry and attacks. “We need stronger security, so farmers don’t have to go far into remote lands. And if they must, the government should ensure those areas are protected, no bandits, no threats.”
But not all farmers have been directly impacted by the crisis, though many still feel its terrible effects. Mr Gregory Oviri, a livestock farmer based in Jesse, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, has been practising pig and poultry farming for four years without any direct confrontation with herders. “I have not experienced any form of conflict with herders, and this could be because of the locality where my farm is situated,” he explained.
However, while his farm may be spared from direct clashes, Mr. Oviri admits the consequences of the conflict are far-reaching. “I am not affected directly, but indirectly, yes. Prices of farm produce have really gone higher due to farmers abandoning their farms as a result of increasing clashes between farmers and herders.”
This, he says, has significantly impacted input costs for livestock farmers. “Imagine the high cost of maize, which is a major byproduct of poultry feeds, because we have fewer farmers. These high costs of feeds will definitely be factored into the cost of poultry products and pig production.”
Mr. Oviri also lamented the lack of support from the government and security agencies. “I haven’t received any form of assistance from the government in terms of security,” he said, adding that traditional leaders and community heads often ignore early warning signs. “Most traditional rulers are complacent, ignoring potential risks. There’s no willingness or proactive approach to the challenges farmers face with herdsmen.”
According to Mr. Oviri, the root causes of the conflict include climate change and land pressures, particularly in the northern region. “Drought and desertification have forced pastoralists to seek grazing lands further south,” he explained. “The government should create Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements or promote ranching where cattle are kept in enclosed parcels of land.”
Both Mr. Sadau and Mr. Oviri, though from different regions and experiences, underscore the need for structural reforms, from policy-driven grazing alternatives to stronger community action and security.
Diving into the security aspect, an officer with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who spoke anonymously, acknowledged the challenges his unit faces in dealing with the crisis.
“We receive distress calls often from farmers, especially in hotspots like Benue and Southern Kaduna,” he said. “But we have limited resources and vast rural areas to cover. Sometimes by the time we arrive, the damage is already done.”
According to the officer, poor road access, manpower shortages, and nighttime attacks make it difficult to patrol effectively. Still, he affirmed that some arrests have been made and that local mediation efforts between farmers and herders are ongoing.
“We need more boots on the ground, more community partnerships, and stronger political will. Trained community vigilante groups could support us, but only if well regulated.”
The officer urged farmers to continue reporting incidents and avoid retaliatory violence, while assuring that security forces remain committed to curbing the crisis.
As the tension escalates and food inflation bites harder, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently attempted a controversial approach. In a memo dated June 11, 2025, the ministry directed its staff nationwide to embark on a three-day fasting and prayer program for divine intervention on food security and national development.
The session, which was scheduled for June 16, 23, and 30, met immediate backlash. Critics condemned the initiative, arguing that symbolic gestures would not solve structural problems, especially when millions of Nigerians face acute food insecurity. “We don’t need fasting, we need fencing,” one aggrieved farmer tweeted.
Under mounting criticism, the Ministry suspended the sessions indefinitely. Still, the call for prayer highlights the depth of the crisis, one that has left both leaders and citizens scrambling for answers.
From damaged cornfields in Kaduna to skyrocketing poultry feed prices in Delta, and overstretched security teams across rural Nigeria, the picture is clear: The farmers-herders conflict is a real and growing threat to Nigeria’s food security.
While spiritual interventions may offer solace, tangible action is urgently needed, including secured farmlands, the establishment of grazing zones, enforcement of anti-open grazing laws, and increased support for displaced farmers.
Until Nigeria confronts the root causes and enforces solutions at scale, the country risks watching its food basket crumble under the weight of an avoidable crisis.