The Impact of Open Grazing Prohibition Law on Rural Livelihood in Benue State, 2017 – 2022

Farmers-herders’ conflicts in Nigeria have intensified in the last two decades. To end these conflicts, the Benue State Government enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law criminalizing animals from openly grazing within the state. Against this backdrop, this study examines the Open Grazing Prohibition Law (OGP&RE) and rural livelihoods in Benue State, 2017-2022. In an attempt to achieve this objective, the study employed a descriptive survey design while data was generated from questionnaires and interview instruments. Gultung's Peace Theory provided a theoretical lens for the study. Findings from the study revealed that the destruction of crops by cattle, forceful taking over of lands and violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen serve as triggers for the enactment of the OGP&RE Law 2017 in Benue State. Also, since the implementation of the law in 2017, there have been a series of violent clashes between farmers and herders. The increase in the number of attacks since the implementation of the law has negatively affected the economic activities of the rural people of Benue State. The study concluded that the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law has negatively affected rural livelihood in Benue State. Therefore, the study recommended amongst others that the Benue State Government put in place stringent measures to address the issue of confiscation of the cattle heads arrested for violating the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment by Livestock Guard to forestall the attacks by herders on communities where these cattle heads are arrested. Also, the Federal Government's cooperation is required to ensure that the laws meet the set objectives.