Middle-Belt-Town-Hall-Meeting:-The-Missing-Facts-and-Policy-Recommendations

Middle Belt Town Hall Meeting: The Missing Facts and Policy Recommendations

Published by Wisdom Tide 

Dave Ikiedei Asei (Life Coach)

August 25tt, 2025

Introduction

The Middle Belt region of Nigeria has, over the years, become a flashpoint of violent conflicts between herders and farming communities. While the nation has experienced various forms of insecurity—from terrorism in the North-East to militancy in the Niger Delta—the farmer-herder crisis has proven particularly intractable. The Town Hall Meeting convened by stakeholders in the Middle Belt region highlighted the growing desperation of communities under attack, yet it also revealed glaring gaps in understanding the root causes and providing sustainable solutions.

At the center of the debate is the recurring violence associated with Fulani herdsmen. Their activities, which include open grazing of cattle across communities, have led to widespread destruction of farmlands, killings of indigenous people, and displacement of entire populations. However, the most troubling aspect is the seeming inability or unwillingness of security agencies to provide clear answers on how to address the crisis. Instead, vague appeals for peace are made to communities who are losing their lives and livelihoods daily.

This policy review aims to examine the missing facts from the town hall meeting, analyze the root causes of the violence, assess the failures of state institutions, and provide concrete recommendations for government, security agencies, civil society, and the media.

Understanding the Central Issue: Livelihood Destruction

The farmer-herder conflict is often presented as an ethnic or religious issue, but at its core, it is about the destruction of livelihoods. The Middle Belt is primarily agrarian, with farming serving as the main economic activity. When herders allow cattle to graze freely on farmlands, crops are destroyed, and the livelihood of farming communities collapses.

The immediate consequence is food insecurity. Destroyed farmlands mean reduced harvests, higher food prices, and hunger in both local and national contexts. The longer-term consequence is displacement: farmers abandon their communities due to repeated attacks, creating a wave of internally displaced persons (IDPs). This destruction of livelihoods is the fundamental driver of the killings and reprisals, making it more than just a localized conflict but a national economic threat.

The Spread of Violence Beyond the Middle Belt

While the Middle Belt has borne the brunt of herdsmen violence, the crisis has spread to other regions. The South-East and South-South and South-West now report frequent attacks on farmlands, kidnappings, and violent clashes between farmers and herders. This expansion demonstrates that the conflict is not confined by geography but is a symptom of structural policy failure at the federal level.

If unchecked, the spread of violence risks creating a nationwide crisis of food insecurity, heightened ethnic distrust, and wider political instability. It is therefore urgent for the federal government to act decisively before the situation becomes irreparable.

The Role of Security Agencies: A Case of Professional Neglect

One of the most troubling revelations from the town hall meeting was the inability of security agencies to outline practical solutions. Instead of providing a clear security framework, their main message to communities was to “live in peace.” This approach is problematic for several reasons:

1. Neglect of Duty: The constitution mandates security agencies to protect lives and property. By failing to confront perpetrators and leaving communities vulnerable, they appear negligent.

2. Erosion of Trust: Communities that feel abandoned by security forces are more likely to resort to self-help measures, fueling cycles of vigilante violence.

3. Perception of Bias: The lack of decisive action raises suspicions of ethnic or political bias, especially when perpetrators are not prosecuted.

The professional duty of security agencies must extend beyond peace preaching. They are obligated to take proactive measures, including intelligence gathering, arresting offenders, and providing security presence in vulnerable communities.

The Federal Government’s Role: Policy and Leadership Gaps

The federal government has consistently failed to address the root cause of the conflict—open grazing. By allowing herders unrestricted movement across the country, the government exposes farming communities to repeated destruction. While some state governments, such as Benue, have enacted anti-open grazing laws, enforcement remains weak without federal backing.

The federal government must recognize that open grazing is no longer sustainable in the 21st century. Climate change, population growth, and land scarcity have made the traditional nomadic system obsolete. Without a shift toward ranching and modern livestock practices, the crisis will persist.

Beyond Ethnic and Religious Labels

It is important to stress that the farmer-herder conflict is not fundamentally about Christianity versus Islam or indigenous people versus Fulani. At its core, it is about oppression, economic survival, and ideological agendas. However, the conflict has been weaponized by extremists who frame it within religious and cultural narratives, further polarizing communities.

The emphasis should therefore be on addressing the tangible issues—land use, agricultural sustainability, and law enforcement—while being cautious of extremist rhetoric that seeks to divide the country along religious lines.

The Role of the Media and Civil Society

The role of News Central and other media outlets in highlighting the crisis deserves commendation. By exposing the failures of security agencies and amplifying the voices of affected communities, they provide critical checks on government performance.

However, the media alone cannot resolve the crisis. Civil society organizations must step in to bridge the gap between communities and policymakers. This includes advocating for ranching policies, supporting victims through legal and humanitarian aid, and monitoring government promises to ensure accountability.

Policy Recommendations

1. Federal Government Interventions

Ban Open Grazing Nationwide: The federal government must enact and enforce a nationwide ban on open grazing, with strict penalties for violations.

Introduce Ranching Policy: Establish a national ranching policy that provides incentives, land allocation, and financial support for herders to transition to ranches.

Strengthen Agricultural Protection: Declare food security a national security issue and integrate farm protection into security strategies.

Conflict Resolution Framework: Create a federal task force specifically for farmer-herder conflicts, comprising security experts, agricultural economists, and community leaders.

2. Security Agencies

Proactive Policing: Deploy mobile police units and military patrols in high-risk communities to deter attacks.

Intelligence-Led Operations: Improve intelligence gathering and surveillance to identify and disrupt herder militias before attacks occur.

Prosecution of Offenders: Establish special tribunals for speedy trial of those arrested in connection with herder-farmer violence.

Training and Sensitization: Train security personnel to handle farmer-herder conflicts impartially and professionally.

3. State Governments

Enforce Anti-Grazing Laws: States that have passed such laws must back them with enforcement mechanisms.

Provide Grazing Alternatives: Allocate land for ranching and partner with the private sector to develop livestock infrastructure.

Support for Farmers: Provide compensation schemes for farmers whose crops and farmlands are destroyed.

4. Civil Society and Media

Advocacy Campaigns: Launch awareness campaigns on the dangers of open grazing and the benefits of ranching.

Community Mediation: Facilitate dialogue between farmers and herders to reduce suspicion and hostility.

Victim Support Programs: Provide legal aid, counseling, and economic support to victims of violence.

Accountability Journalism: Continue to spotlight failures in security response and hold government accountable.

5. International Partners

Technical Assistance: Seek international expertise in ranching and livestock management.

Peacebuilding Support: Partner with international organizations to design conflict-resolution programs tailored to Nigeria’s context.

Climate Adaptation Funding: Secure international funding for climate-resilient agriculture, since resource scarcity worsens the conflict.

Conclusion

The Middle Belt Town Hall Meeting underscored the urgency of addressing the farmer-herder crisis, but it also exposed the lack of clear strategies from government and security agencies. The destruction of farmlands and livelihoods is the fundamental driver of violence, yet solutions have been reduced to mere calls for peace.

A nationwide ban on open grazing, coupled with a transition to ranching, is the only sustainable solution. Security agencies must rise above neutrality and fulfill their constitutional duty to protect lives and property. State governments must enforce their anti-grazing laws, while civil society and the media must continue to advocate and hold government accountable.

The farmer-herder conflict is not simply a Middle Belt problem—it is a national threat to peace, security, and food sovereignty. Only through decisive leadership, clear policies, and coordinated action can Nigeria break the cycle of violence and restore peace to its communities.

Policy Brief

Addressing the Farmer–Herder Crisis in Nigeria: Lessons from the Middle Belt Town Hall Meeting

Executive Summary

The farmer–herder crisis is one of the gravest threats to peace, security, and food sovereignty in Nigeria. The Middle Belt has become the epicenter of violent clashes, but the crisis is spreading to the South-South and South-East. At the heart of the conflict is the destruction of livelihoods through open grazing, which fuels killings, displacement, and food insecurity.

Despite repeated town hall meetings and government pronouncements, security agencies have failed to provide practical solutions, resorting instead to vague calls for peace. The federal government must urgently ban open grazing nationwide and adopt modern ranching policies. Without decisive intervention, the crisis risks spiraling into a nationwide catastrophe.

Key Issues

Destruction of Farmlands: Open grazing by herders devastates farming communities, destroying crops and threatening food security.

Widespread Violence: Attacks, killings, and displacements are escalating beyond the Middle Belt to the South-South and South-East.

Security Failures: Security agencies have not fulfilled their constitutional duty of protecting lives and property, eroding public trust.

Livelihoods at Stake: The conflict is primarily about land, resources, and survival, not religion or ethnicity.

Policy Gaps: Lack of a clear federal framework on livestock management continues to fuel the crisis.

Policy Recommendations

1. Federal Government

Enact and enforce a nationwide ban on open grazing.

Develop a National Ranching Policy with incentives for herders to adopt modern ranching.

Integrate farm protection into national security strategy, declaring food security a national security priority.

Establish a Federal Task Force on Farmer–Herder Conflicts with experts in security, agriculture, and conflict resolution.

2. Security Agencies

Deploy mobile police and military patrols to vulnerable communities.

Use intelligence-led operations to identify and dismantle armed herder groups.

Create special tribunals for speedy prosecution of perpetrators.

Provide training for impartial handling of farmer–herder conflicts.

3. State Governments

Enforce existing anti-open grazing laws.

Partner with private investors to establish grazing reserves and ranches.

Introduce compensation schemes for farmers affected by destruction.

4. Civil Society and Media

Lead advocacy campaigns to promote ranching and discourage open grazing.

Facilitate community mediation to reduce mistrust.

Provide legal aid and psychosocial support to victims of violence.

Maintain accountability journalism to monitor government responses.

5. International Partners

Provide technical assistance in ranching and livestock management.

Support peacebuilding and dialogue programs.

Fund climate-resilient agriculture projects to reduce competition over land.

Conclusion

The farmer–herder crisis is no longer a regional issue but a national security emergency. The Middle Belt Town Hall Meeting revealed the inadequacy of current government responses and the urgent need for decisive action.

The solution lies not in empty calls for peace but in policy reforms: banning open grazing, adopting ranching, strengthening security operations, and supporting victims. Only through coordinated action by the federal government, state authorities, security agencies, civil society, and international partners can Nigeria end this cycle of violence and safeguard its food security.

Dave Ikiedei Asei is a life Coach, writes from Bayelsa state