AGRICULTURAL LAND TENURE: THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT CONFLICT IN SARDAUNA LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the causes of violent conflict in the sardauna local government area of Taraba state. The specific objectives were to identify the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondent, the causes of violent conflict, land tenure system of the respondents. This study was conducted in selected villages of sardauna local government. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study found that pressure on land was main cause of violent conflict in the area, majorities (76%) of the respondents were male and 76% of them were married. The results shows that (46%) of the respondents have tertiary educational qualification. The respondents have 61% herders and animal rearing is their major economic activities. The radio television and GSM phone are the main source of information during crisis. The study also found that (92%) of the respondents have access to land and 83% of the respondents accessed their land formally. Majority of the respondent uses private and communal land while only (6%) have the transfer right over the land. Slight majority (51%) of the respondents possess Certificate of Occupancy which is the most important document for land resources. The study concluded that pressure on land is the main cause of violent conflict in the area.  The stakeholder should preach peace with a long time negotiation and government should call perpetrators to book for sustainable peace in the area.