CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: A PANACEA TO FARMERS AND HERDSMEN CONFLICTS
Keywords:
Conflicts, Farmers and Herdsmen, Religious Education, PanaceaAbstract
Conflicts between farmers and herdsmen have been a source of concern to all and sundry in recent times. There have been reports of violence and killings of different dimensions in the print and electronic media between farmers and herdsmen, especially in the north-east and north-central geo-political zones of Nigeria. The crises have resulted in the loss of human and material resources worth millions of naira, while people live in constant fear of attack and retaliation against their community. Secondary data was examined to analyze the causes and effects of the conflicts and the role of religion as a panacea in preaching love, peace, mutual understanding, and coexistence between the farmers and the herdsmen. It also opines that they should see one another as Nigerian citizens created by God but differing in terms of language and ethnic background. The paper therefore concluded that tenets of religion such as unity, forbearance, humility, and forgiveness should be preached among farmers and herdsmen. It is also recommended that the government rise to its responsibilities by providing adequate security and protection to its citizens, while community leaders and religious leaders should also see that peace reigns supreme in their domain.
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