THE HERDERS’ AUDACITY AND THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Since the emergence of consciousness in human being self-preservation has been of paramount concern to man. As an omnivorous animal, human beings cultivate plants and rear animals for self-preservation and sustenance, and resist any threat to the means of its livelihood. It is based on this prism that it employs any action both lawful andunlawful aimedat preserving its livelihood. However, preserving one’s life need not be at the peril of another. However, it is on this basis that cow industry in northern part of Nigeria is examined, and how it constitute one of the life wire of the economy of the region, and determine the relation with other occupational pattern in Nigeria, and also define the fault line of conflict in Northern Nigeria region and other part of the Nigerian state. However, the paper examines the role cow economy play in northern Nigeria and factor how the trade contributes to unending schisms in Northern region in particular and Nigerian state in general. Also examined is the herders’ audacity in Nigeria and Northern oligarchy in perspective. The paper deployed qualitative method in data collection and literature analyzed data using thematic content analysis. The paper concludes that the overbearing influence of cow merchants is largely one of the factors responsible for the destruction of lives and property by herders in Nigeria.