Call Us +234 817 1750 304

 Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi

JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (JESR), Vol. 12 No. 2 (2026)



Herdsmen-Crop Farmers Conflict and Household Economy in Rural Nigeria: Evidence from Farming Households in Guma LGA of Benue State



Abstract

Violent conflicts between pastoral herders and sedentary farmers have become one of the most pressing rural development challenges in Nigeria. These conflicts increasingly manifest as organized attacks on farming communities, leading to displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and growing food insecurity. This study examines the effects of herdsmen attacks on the household economy of farming households in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Specifically, the study analyzes how violent attacks influence agricultural output, household income, and the coping strategies adopted by affected households. Using a survey research design, data were collected from farming households residing in Internally Displaced persons (IDP) camps and conflict-affected communities within Guma LGA. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed to examine the relationship between exposure to attacks and household economic outcomes. The findings reveal that herdsmen attack significantly reduce agricultural output, disrupt household income sources, and alter consumption patterns, forcing households to adopt negative coping mechanisms such as distress asset sales and reduced food intake. The study concludes that persistent insecurity has severely undermined the economic sustainability of rural households in the study area. The study recommends strengthened security interventions, targeted livelihood restoration programs, and the promotion of conflict-sensitive agricultural policies to support household economic recovery in conflict-affected communities.



Key words: Agricultural output, herdsmen conflict, household economy, rural livelihoods

PDF Icon