INFLUENCE OF HERDERS-FARMERS CONFLICT ON PUPILS’ ENROLMENT, RETENTION, AND COMPLETION OF BASIC EDUCATION IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Recently, farmers-herders in Benue state had a sour relationship with persistent conflict. The conflict erupted in the state at intervals with varying gravity, such as displacement of people, destruction of houses, schools, deaths, and loss of valuable items worth several million. The study examined the influence of herders-farmers conflict on pupils’ enrolment, retention, and completion of basic education in Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey method. The population of the study comprised all 4,486 basic school pupils in Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 30 from 438 basic schools in three (3) local government areas under study was selected using a multistage sampling technique. A period of 10 years was used for the collection of data. The data collected from this study were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed, among others, that enrolment dwindled with increasing conflict, retention also declined with severity in conflict, as well as completion rates across three local government areas, especially in the years 2014, 2018, and 2020. The study concluded that the farmers-herders conflict in Benue State has influenced enrolment, retention, and completion of basic education. The study recommended, among others, that the international communities and the federal/state government should serve as an intermediary to resolve the continuous conflict.