Incidence of Herdsmen Militancy in Southern Nigeria: A Threat-Import Analysis

This study examines the threat implication of the incidence of Fulani herdsmen militancy in Southern Nigeria. Though engaged in nomadic cattle grazing, the militant group in Nigeria otherwise referred to as Fulani Herdsmen were known to be operating predominantly within the Middle Belt region of Northern Nigeria where they have been at daggers drawn with the native settled farmers. In recent times however, these nomadic pastoralists have aggressively expanded the frontiers of their operation to Southern Nigeria, unleashing mayhem against the host communities. Drawing from qualitative analysis of data collected through primary and secondary sources, this paper argues that the unbridled escalation of herders’ belligerence against the communities of Southern Nigeria would not only endanger state security but threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria. It therefore recommends that government at all levels should promulgate legislations outlawing open grazing of cattle while urging herders to establish ranches for their cattle