EDUCATIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF FARMER/HERDERS CLASHES ON PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN OGBADIBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE
This study investigated the educational consequences of farmer/herder clashes on primary school enrollment and infrastructural development in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The persistent violent conflict between nomadic herders and local farming communities has led to widespread insecurity, displacement, and disruption of essential services, particularly education. Adopting a descriptive survey research design, the study sampled 100 primary school teachers and head teachers from conflict-affected schools using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that the farmer/herder clashes have significantly reduced primary school enrollment due to parental fear, displacement of families, and increased absenteeism. The study also showed that school infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, including the destruction of buildings, vandalization of learning facilities, and overcrowding due to displaced pupils. Chi-square analyses confirmed a statistically significant relationship between the farmer/herder conflict and both school enrollment and infrastructural development (p = 0.000). These findings highlight the deepening educational crisis in conflict-affected communities and underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions. The study recommends immediate reconstruction of damaged schools, deployment of security measures, introduction of mobile learning programs for displaced children, trauma support for learners and teachers, and integration of conflict-sensitive planning in educational policy. Addressing these issues is critical to restoring safe, inclusive, and resilient educational systems in rural areas affected by violence.
Keywords: Farmer/herder conflict, primary education, school enrollment, infrastructure.
