Understanding Narratives in the Farmer-Herder Conflicts of Northern Nigeria

ABSTRACT: Farmer-herder conflicts are layered, multifactorial manifestations of violence rooted in diverse narratives. Given that narratives are central to constructing one’s perception of violence, investigations of how different stakeholders curate narratives of historical events and social realities can advance our understanding of conflicts. In this paper, we analyze narratives of farmer-herder conflicts and the social and historical realities that influence these narratives. Specifically, we examine perceptions of the drivers of violence of local stakeholders from the affected states of Kaduna and Plateau. Through discourse analysis, we identify three themes in characterizations of farmer-herder conflicts in Northern Nigeria: the ambiguity of land’s function as identity and resource, the mistrust of the ethnoreligious “other” as a colonial legacy, and the debate regarding the rights of indigenes and settlers. We highlight the implications of these narratives on the development of mutual suspicion and grievances between conflicting parties and urge researchers and practitioners to be attentive to how narratives shape conflicts and peace.