THE STATE, GOVERNANCE DEFICIT AND INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: A DIACHRONIC ANALYSIS OF THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS TO THE HERDERS – FARMERS CONFLICTS IN THE MIDDLE BELT GEOPOLITICAL ZONE 2015-2020

Abstract

This paper examined the state, governance deficit and insecurity in Nigeria as tangents boosting international dimensions to the Herders-farmers conflicts in the Middle Belt Geopolitical Zone. The paper appropriated theory triangulation via Marx (1971) theory of the state, Frustration-aggression of Gur (1970) and Neo-Malthusian theory of natural scarcity of E. W. Wrigley (1969), Ran Abramitzky & Fabio Braggion (1977) to explain the relationship between the state, skewed governance, insecurity and development challenges. While classical Marxism reveals the state as an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade the opposing class so it could appropriate the common wealth, Frustration-Aggression shows that the appropriation of the common wealth breeds frustration leading to aggression against persons and property. The two theories then collapse into the Neo-Malthusian theory of natural scarcity accentuated by population explosion, ecological degradation and indiscriminate consumption of natural resources to show the nexus in the herders-farmers conflicts in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. The consideration of theory triangulation in the article is informed by the descriptive and articulate nature of the three theories in their attempt at highlighting the factors that are responsible for the Herders-farmers conflicts, while at the same time focusing on the linkages between local and international collaborators. Data for the paper was generated through secondary sources like text books, published and unpublished scholarly studies, verified internet links and journal articles. The paper adopted descriptive method to qualitatively analyze data. Qualitative analysis of data reveals that governance deficit and the support of the Buhari’s regime to the Herders is not too different from the eruptive international jihadist collaborations that have boosted the Herders-farmers conflicts and recommended that government should collaborate with sociocultural groups like Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, Afenifere, Middle-Belt Elders Forum and Ohana-Eze-Ndi Igbo to synergize with international non-governmental actors like the USAID, the British Council sponsored Nigeria Reconciliation and Stability Projects (NRSP), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), MACBAND to discuss and initiate possible palliatives for the warring parties while modern method of animal husbandry, be kept in mind.