The Spasmodic Conflict and the Challenges of Rural Development in Benue State, Nigeria

One of the central problems that have constrained or hamstrung rural development in Benue state is the spasmodic conflict that have engulfed the state in the past two decade. The state today has become a theatre of crisis and acrimony resulting to a scenario that is tragic. The objective of this paper is to examine the spasmodic conflict in Benue State that has become a recurrent nightmare that kept re occurring despite several interventions by both the state and national government to put a lasting solution to it. Eco-Violence theory is adopted for the study. It explains the intricate linkages that have developed between resource scarcity as a result of climate change and violent conflict which to some extent explains the basis for spasmodic conflict in Benue State. The study also employs multi - stage cluster sampling techniques. Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaire was deployed in collecting quantitative data from 400 respondents that were made up of key actors in the study area. Quantitative data collected through questionnaire were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and was presented in form of tables, frequencies and percentages. In interpreting out data, the relationship between the conflicts and rural development was established at both theoretical and empirical levels. The study established that land, land resources and crop damages are at the heart of the protracted conflicts in Benue State. Recommendations such as: the need for developmental programme towards overcoming economic discrimination against indigenes and settlers, the implementation of democratic principles representation of all nationality, government and civil society collaboration among others.