RURAL FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF COMMUNAL CONFLICTS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed rural farmers’ perception of communal conflict in Benue State. Multi-stage random sampling was adopted in selecting four Local Government Areas. In each of the local government areas selected, three villages were purposively selected based on occurrence of communal conflicts in the area. Simple random sampling was used in administering structured questionnaire through interview to the 120 respondents. Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and graph. Results of the findings revealed that 57.50% of communal conflicts were caused by land disputes, 38% communal conflicts reduced development, 65% communal conflicts caused social vices and promoted negative cohesion, 62% communal conflicts reduced volume of trade, 22.09% leaders and political appointees of communities involved in communal conflicts should be removed and 12.0% land communities are fighting over it should be taken over by government. It is recommended that proper boundary demarcation should be carried out in all places to avoid communal conflicts.

Keywords

• Rural,farmers,perception,communal,conflicts

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