An Assessment of Ethno-Religious Interpretation of Pastoralist-Farmers Conflict in Northern Nigeria

                @article{CRSIJ26000501,
                  author = {Sarah Elisha Dawam },
                  title = {An Assessment of Ethno-Religious Interpretation of Pastoralist-Farmers Conflict in Northern Nigeria},
                  journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
                  year = {2026},
                  volume = {2},
                  number = {2},
                  pages = {1021-1031},
                  issn = {3108-1584},
                  url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000501.pdf},
                  abstract = {Since the return to Nigeria's Fourth Republic, the Northern parts of the country have experienced recurring conflicts between pastoralists and farmers. The conflicts have assumed a new dimension with the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) among non-state actors, which further intensified the violence. Despite concerted efforts by the state to restore peace and security, the conflict has persisted and has been narrated through ethnic and religious interpretations. Existing literature has explored the conflicts in relation to climate change and the indigene-settler dichotomy, while recent scholarship has examined it alongside armed banditry.  However, the ethnic and religious angles through which the conflict has been framed remain understudied.  This study fills the gap by investigating how resource-based conflict intersects with ethno-religious appellations across Northern Nigeria. Adopting a qualitative analysis of secondary sources, the study argues that the conflict is essentially resource-based and that ethno-religious appellations are mobilised for group support during conflict. The study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between resource users and identity-based interpretations in the pastoralist-farmer conflicts in Northern Nigeria, and concludes that the conflicts stem primarily from resource-related grievances while identities shape their interpretation.},
                  keywords = {pastoralists, farmers, conflict, ethnicity, religion},
                  month = {September}
        }