Managing Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Adamawa State

 

Rise in Cross Migration of Nomadic Grazing and Farmer-Herder Clashes in Adamawa State – A Call for Caution, Peace

By

Engineer Diaulhaq Abubakar Mnse

(Sarki Dawaki Mai Tuta Adamawa)

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Communities across Adamawa State have faced severe humanitarian and socio-economic challenges as a result of continued farmer–herder clashes which claimed lives, destroyed property, and undermined food security.

Countless incidents have left families grieving, displaced from their homes, and struggling to rebuild livelihoods. Farmlands have been abandoned due to fear of attacks and reprisals, while crops and stored produce have been destroyed, pushing food prices upward and threatening the state’s food supply. Livestock losses have also been reported, wiping out years of savings for pastoral households.

The violence has not spared education. In several affected areas, schools have closed temporarily, while many children have dropped out to support displaced families. Health facilities are overstretched, and cases of trauma, malnutrition, infections, and gender-based violence are on the rise.

Women and girls have been disproportionately affected, bearing increased burdens of caregiving and facing heightened risks during displacement. Market disruptions have crippled rural economies, reduced income for traders, and strained local government revenues.

The series of crises had also eroded social cohesion, with mistrust growing between farming and herding communities. This breakdown of traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms has allowed retaliatory violence and criminal activity to thrive.

Government at all levels must be commended for quick and timely interventions in different dimensions and phases. However, most of the times, the ugly incidents came unnoticed, and before authorities concern act, the damages have been done. 

Authorities, community leaders, and humanitarian partners are hereby called upon to intensify peacebuilding efforts, restore grazing routes and farmlands, provide timely compensation for losses whenever the misunderstanding happens, and support displaced families with shelter, food, seeds, livestock restocking, and education recovery programs.

The people of Adamawa State deserve lasting peace that allows farmers and herders to coexist peacefully and productively. Without decisive action, the cycle of violence will continue to harm lives, livelihoods, and the state’s economic stability.

May we continue to live in peace, unity, understanding and harmony.

Engineer Diaulhaq Abubakar Mnse

(Sarki Dawaki Mai Tuta Adamawa)