The Politics of Eco-Violence: Why Is Conflict Escalating in Nigeria’s Middle Belt?

In Nigeria’s Middle Belt, competition for land and other resources has intensified between nomadic Fulani herders sedentary farmers. What were initially sporadic conflicts over cropland water have transformed into daily occurrences of mass violence. While extant research centres on the root causes such conflicts, reasons their escalation remain insufficiently understood. This article examines how political developments contributed to conflicts. Using Homer-Dixon model secondary sources, findings show that changes in “political opportunity structure” since 2014 catalysts escalating violent The consequences unvarnished adoption nepotistic domestic policies alliances elites militia members, which escalated advocates devolution natural security governance prevent leaders from leveraging shifts structures favour a specific demographic group.