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

Year 2018, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 42 - 53, 31.08.2018

Gyanden Peter Kughur , Jethro Dukut Gabriel Katikpo

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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