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CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Introduction

            The survival of humanity is tied with the ability to have a secured environment and the ability to feed to stay alive. In this regard, security and food production are essential for every functional society. Insecurity is a state a state of uncertainty, lack, fear, unstable condition and atmosphere.¹ Therefore, it will be challenging for a state to boost food production in an environment characterized by uncertainty, lack, anxiety and general tension. Insecurity has always been a concern to people and the government. One fundamental source of most problem of humanity is insecurity. insecurity has been defined to mean suspicion or that feeling of threat or peril that comes out from the reasoning when one feels unsafe and threatened. It is this feeling that creates tension and anxiety.² It, therefore, means that the absence of security is insecurity. Against this backdrop, this study examines the nature of herders terrorism in Delta state and the manifestation of food insecurity in Agbor.

            However, with this seeming unending crisis between farmers and the host communities whose crops are regularly invaded and destroyed by the cattle during seasonal movements, the rate of insecurity and violence in Agbor, Delta State has increased, and has led many populations to create self-defence forces and ethnic militias, which have engaged in further violence.³ Frankly speaking, Nigeria as a nation state today has been under a severe internal socio-economic and security threat occasioned by Farmers-Herders conflicts even as the threat has special economic, political and environmental dimensions. Each of these dimensions has greatly affected the nation’s stability and food security and it can be traced to the herders and Farmers crises, poverty, insurgency, policy gaps and underdevelopment, armed robbery, corruption, economic sabotage and environmental degradation. The Farmers-herdsmen conflict remains the major issue in Nigeria and it has assumed very dangerous dimensions with unimaginable consequences for food security.⁴

Aim and Objectives of the Study

            The aim of this work is to examine historical analysis event of farmer-herder’s crisis on food insecurity in Agbor community in Delta State. The specific objectives include:

1. To examine the historical tradition origin of the Agbor people.
2. To examine the migration story of Herders into Agbor community in Delta State.
3. To elucidates the settlement and land use by Herders in Agbor community.
4. To examine the nature and manifestations of farmer herders crisis on food insecurity in Agbor community in Delta State.
5. To examine the efforts of governments and community leaders in curbing farmer herders crisis Agbor community.

Scope of Study

            The study intends to cover on the manifestations of farmer-herders crisis on food insecurity in Agbor community of Delta State from 1999 to 2023. In the course of this work, attempt will be made to look at the origin of Agbor community and their settlement pattern. Thereafter, their various economic activities will be reviewed. The work looks into the migration of herders in Agbor community and their operational mode which later resulted in killing destruction of farmlands. The instrument used for the aforementioned activities will be highlighted.

Methodology

            In order to achieve a comprehensive study, historical methodology is employed. Documents on the period under review in relation to the essay were consulted, and were mainly in form of oral interviews with the people of Agbor of Delta State. The work employs both primary and secondary sources to bring about detailed analysis.

Primary Sources: Primary sources like archival documents and oral interview constitute a major aspect of the research. Oral interview will be conducted with elders, community leaders, chiefs, traders and farmers to furnish the research with the necessary information. Some important photographs also serve as sources of this research.

Secondary sources: Secondary sources constitute textbooks, journals, and internet sources that will help develop the work. Edo state and John Harris library will be consulted.

Literature Review

            There is not much academic work on the nature and manifestations of farmers-herders crisis on food insecurity in Agbor community of Delta State. There are however, certain literatures that deal on farmers-herders crisis in Delta State then a few on relevant aspects on migration settlement and land use by herders in some communities in Nigeria. To start with, is the analysis done by N. Sandra Ikenyei, article “The Dynamics of Herdsmen and Farmers Conflict in Abraka, Delta State,”⁵ posits that the recent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Abraka community heightened the sufferings of inhabitants as lives and properties worth millions were destroyed. Cause of the conflict centre on water and grazing rights between pastoral Fulani herdsmen and agrarian farmers. The conflict has become fatal as herdsmen defend themselves from farmers who obstruct their grazing activities. Generally, insecurity and stagnation deepened as reprisal attacks threatened lives and social order. While past researches focus on causes and economic cost of the crisis, little attention has been given to its physiological effects on the level of insecurity and disunity among the different ethnic groups in Abraka. Thus, the author explored its psychological effects on security and unity.⁶

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