An Assessment of State and Non-State Responses to Farmers Herders Conflicts in Ibarapa Local Government Area, Oyo State

Abstract

This study investigates government interventions in managing farmers–herders conflicts in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State, Nigeria, from 2017 to 2025. Adopting a qualitative research design, data were gathered through key informant interviews with 22 purposively selected participants, including representatives of government agencies, citizens, traditional rulers, and security personnel from over 60 communities across Ibarapa East, Central, and North Local Government Areas. The study identifies major interventions such as the prohibition of open grazing, establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), community policing, and nomadic education programmes. Findings show that Amotekun has notably reduced conflict frequency and intensity through the use of local knowledge, collaboration with vigilantes, and a strong presence in volatile areas. However, several challenges hinder effective implementation, including inadequate funding, weak institutional capacity, political interference, socio-cultural resistance, and low community participation. These factors limit the sustainability and overall impact of existing measures. The study concludes that although current interventions have improved security and reduced violence, sustainable peace demands an inclusive and adequately funded approach. It recommends strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing enforcement mechanisms, promoting community participation, addressing socio-economic roots of conflict, and ensuring consistent political commitment. By offering a context-specific evaluation of policy effectiveness and challenges, the study contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable conflict management and provides practical insights for policymakers and scholars seeking to address farmer–herder conflicts in Nigeria and similar contexts across Africa