Security Implications Of Communal Land Disputes

Security Implications Of Communal Land Disputes

Abstract

This study uses four (4) LGAs, namely Vandeikya, Ukum, Guma, and Tarka as a case study to analyze the security consequences of community land conflicts in Tiv-land. It reviews pertinent material and administers a questionnaire to a sample of 140 respondents drawn from all chosen LGAs. According to the findings, communal land disputes have major security consequences for the lives and property of Tiv people, which has resulted in the sociopolitical and economic division of communities. As a result, it was advised that the disputing parties be urged to communicate or negotiate a resolution to their disagreements, as this would provide each side the chance to voice their viewpoint and hear those of others. It further suggests that Nigerian policymakers examine the efficiency of the nation’s land laws and how they are implemented at the local and regional levels. Selected local leaders must be included in the process to prevent difficulties.

Implications Of Communal Land Disputes On Security

Text Of The Chapter

First Chapter

Introduction

Background of the research

1.2 An explanation of the issues

Study objectives, paragraph 1.3

1.4 A description of the theory

1.5 The study’s scope and limitations

1.6 Importance of the study

Two Chapters

evaluation of relevant literature

A 2.0 Introduction

2.1 Definitional Clarification

2.1.1 Reasons for Intercommunal Conflict

2.2 Theoretical Foundation

2.2.1 Elements related to land conflicts

2.2.2 In Nigeria, the difference between statutory and customary land rights

Empirical Literature, Section 2.3

2.3.1 The Tiv Nation’s Historical Background

2.3.2 Land disputes in Tiv land and other relevant problems

Communal land disputes and security issues 2.3.3

2.3.4 Controlling land disputes

Section Three

Research methodology and design

3.1 Study’s methodology

3.2 A sample research technique

3.3 Study Subject

3.4 The study’s population sample

3.5 Data collecting sources

3.6 Reliability of the tool

In Chapter 4,

presenting, analyzing, and interpreting data

Section Five

Summary of findings, judgment, and suggestions

Conclusions summarized in 5.1

The conclusion (5.2)

Recommendations, paragraph 5.3

Bibliography

Questionnaire

Implications Of Communal Land Disputes On Security

Chapiter 1

Introduction

Background of the research

Land is a crucial natural resource that supports all life, including plants, animals, and humans. Almost all activities occur on Earth because it is a permanent socio-economic resource that hosts and supports the production of commodities and services (Magel, 2001). Since the nature of the land and the sorts of its constituents govern what must exist on it, grasses grow on savannah land, while hardwood forests, among other things, are characteristic of tropical land. Land affects climate and shapes inhabitants’ lifestyles to some extent all over the world. It also hosts the towns and homes from which man’s ancestry may be traced, making it the location of all communities on the territory-defined area. Similar to how a kingdom’s sovereignty is based on the amount of land it controls, territorial defense usually serves to protect or hold onto a specific piece of land.

As there are indications that man’s complex socio-economic, cultural, and physical attachments to land have placed land in a sensitive and unique position, disputes over land are frequently combined with strong economic, spatial, cultural, and emotional values. The aforementioned arguments reveal that land is essential to continuity of life, indispensable in physical development, and complex in social relations of production in the economic world. In other words, there is a sociocultural aspect to every country.

Conflicting community interests in securing territories, protecting socioeconomic resources, carrying out physical development projects, and upholding customs and traditions on land have resulted in numerous conflicts throughout history (Abegunde, 2010). Millions of people have been affected by these conflicts, which have also led to missed opportunities for social unrest, economic depression, and the destruction of housing stock and foundational infrastructure for community physical development (Gizewski and Homer-Dixon, 1995; Justino, 2004). Land disputes and conflicts of all kinds have major economic and social implications for the human environment.

Conflicts, disagreements, quarrels, clashes, and wars between people, groups, or nations are referred to as disputes in this study (Angaye, 2003). They may have a brief or long tenure, but they have a direct or indirect impact on the local population and environment. Such disputes can occasionally be profitable for an organization or the persons involved.

Experiences in African countries, however, have demonstrated that wars have significantly more detrimental impacts than positive ones (Colletta, Kostner, and Wiederhofer, 1996; Bisnwanger, Klaus, and Gershon, 1996; Shah, 2003; Salim, 2004).

The destruction of urban land during and after conflict, the inability to preserve landed properties with cultural or historical values, the inability to access urban land for meaningful socio-economic or physical development programs, and other factors are examples of direct losses on land (Schock, 1996; Addison, 2001; Abegunde, 2010). It is important to note that disputes over land frequently lead to subsequent losses of land and the resources it supports. In other words, land, which first spurred development, might now act as a barrier to it in the built environment. Where there are no government rules and locals place a high value on land, this might be revolting.

According to literature (Oyerinde, 2005; Ayo, 2002; Asiyanbola, 2008), African groups are the most likely to practice this. For them, land represents the gateway to paradise for dead family members, the place where ancestors reside, and a devouring deity for those who mistreat and abuse it (Ayo, 2002). That may be the reason Tuladhar (2004) had the idea that the property belonged to a large family, of which many were already deceased, few were still alive, and countless more were yet to be born.

Conflict can result from parties or groups in particular social or physical circumstances pursuing opposing interests, aims, or aspirations. Conflict is an inherent part of human society. Competition for limited resources is unavoidable in any civilization, and the Tiv society is by no means an exception, despite having a homogeneous culture. Due to the relative scarcity of these coveted resources and the people’s fervent desire to access and control them, conflict has become unavoidable. Those who have been engaged in dispute management in some capacity have been interested in efforts to understand the underlying causes of conflict. Many academics have even asserted that the sheer variety and complexity of the reasons of dispute make it impossible to develop definitive hypotheses. Anifowose cites the following from a US government publication:

“There is no one reason that is more or less potent than another. In actuality, there are frequently a number of reasons, significant contributing factors, historical ties, and other catalysts that contribute to violence. Every war has been different.

The Tiv nation has been embroiled in some sort of conflict for many years now, which frequently leads to the loss of lives, property, and displaced people. The underdevelopment of Tivland is in large part due to these disagreements. As the actors see a difference between their valued expectations and their society’s valued capabilities, the existence of conflict in Tivland presupposes the existence of interactions between people or in the organization of economic, political, or social systems. The majority of disagreements are about political or land-related issues, all of which have their origins in the Tiv nation’s political system.

The Tiv people have a stateless, divided political structure with a unified culture and common origins. Each sector is self-governing, comparatively independent, and autonomous due to its political order and pattern. However, there are degrees of interpersonal affinities and connections that span the entire social structure. The ties and conflicts between people are explained by the political system’s diversity. Both Tivland and Nigeria’s social environments appear to be particularly conducive to disagreements continuing. When Onigu Otite bemoans the social structure of Nigeria as a whole, he concurs with this statement. He said this:

The social structure of Nigerian society is complicated by competing demands for access to limited resources, particularly in the political and economic spheres. It is a society that is characterized by innate divisions and artificial conflicts. Conflicts naturally arise when membership in an ethnic group or a profession is threatened by the advancing interests of other multiple users. Conflicts can range in size and scope depending on the relevant cultural context and the issues at hand.

The aforementioned largely confirms that societal conflicts in Tivland are inevitable. However, just like every other nation, the future of the Tiv people depends in great part on how successfully they can restructure their political, economic, and social structures and on how well they can foster a sense of fulfillment and belonging among their citizens through efficient conflict resolution.

Over the years, many governments have established tribunals and commissions of inquiry to look into the issues with the intention of settling them. In addition to the government, a number of non-governmental organizations have worked to resolve issues in Tiv territory. Additionally, international organizations have participated in the resolution of conflicts in Tivland and elsewhere. Despite all of these efforts, the number of disputes in Tivland is increasing, raising concerns about the efficacy of the management techniques used (Idyorough, 2002). This study highlighted locals’ opinions on current land management practices in relation to earlier land disputes in the area. In order to help policymakers improve effective land use and administration, harmonious physical development on land, and promote peace among residents while also looking at the security implications of this communal land dispute that is common in Tivland, this is being done in order to gather the information necessary on recurrent communal disputes in the area.

1.2 An explanation of the issues

There are numerous types of land disputes. There are disagreements between single parties (such as border disputes between neighbors), disagreements over inheritances between siblings, and disagreements over how to use a particular plot of property. These disagreements are quite simple to resolve. However, dealing with those that involve several parties, such as gang invasions or the evacuation of entire towns, is more challenging. However, maintaining national security necessitates the use of economic, military, and political power as well as the employment of diplomacy in order to ensure the survival of the nation-state. It is the defense of a country against anxiety, peril, or harm. Any change that could endanger a state’s peace and stability, whether through an external invasion or an internal uprising, poses a threat to the security of populations there. Internal land disputes have posed a serious threat to national security since they put people’s lives, their property, and the country itself at risk.

Land in Nigeria historically had little commercial value and remained stable until the 19th-century start of British control. The transfer of land rights became muddled as a result of the blending of the native and British institutions. Therefore, ownership of land has turned into a motivating factor for rural and urban rebellion, resulting in conflicts between families, communities, states, and countries. A severe argument or conflict involves land disputes. It describes territorial disputes, disagreements, conflicts, and battles between people, organizations, and nations (Della, 2004). Land disputes are expected because there are several groups and individuals with a wide range of interests. Sometimes complicated and politically sensitive, land disputes have the potential to lead to conflicts that could impair national security. Land conflicts must be handled in light of this potential implication. Understanding how land disputes affect security is necessary for managing them. This awareness is required to prevent these conflicts and to deal with any negative effects that may arise, endangering the precarious stability and security of the family, community, state, and country (Sara, 2010). Therefore, using Tivland as a base, this study looks at the security implications of communal land disputes and potential methods of managing them.

Study objectives, paragraph 1.3

This study’s major goal is to look into how community land conflicts in Tivland may affect security. The aim of the study is to specifically determine;

Possibilities for resolving Tivland’s community land problems

Tivland’s primary reasons for communal land conflicts

to establish community land rights that are unalienable

to identify the various regional trends and methods for acquiring and protecting land rights

to ascertain how communal land disputes endanger the safety of people, their property, and the people of Tivland.

To make suggestions for Tivland’s dispute handling and settlement

1.4 A description of the theory

The following hypothesis has been developed for a sound and valid inquiry, and the validity will be examined in chapter four utilizing the necessary statistical data.

I. Hypothesis

Ho: In Tiv-land, there is no connection between population and communal land issues.

Hello: In Tiv-land, there is a considerable correlation between population and communal land disputes.

II Hypothesis

Ho: Land disputes among the Tiv have not prevented the region from developing.

Hello: The Tiv-land has been underdeveloped due to communal land disputes.

Third Hypothesis

Ho: Residents of Tivland are not affected by communal land disputes in terms of security.

Hello: Residents of Tiv-land may face security risks as a result of communal land conflicts.

IV. Hypothesis

Ho: In Tiv country, there is no connection at all between communal boundaries and the safety of people’s lives and property.

Hello: In Tiv-land, there is a major connection between communal boundaries and the safety of people’s lives and property.

1.5 The study’s scope and limitations

The focus of this book is specifically on the community land disputes in Tivland. The efforts of this research work will be constrained by time, money, transportation, poor information, and materials due to the different community upheavals that have been witnessed among the residents and the internal communal land conflicts that have previously happened in Tivland.

1.6 Importance of the study

The problem of community conflict has been a significant barrier to overcome for a stable Tivland where everyone is permitted to live in peace with one another. The problem statement stressed the urgent necessity to resolve communal land issues once and for all in order to prevent further calamity that could jeopardize people’s lives and property.

This analysis is important because it reveals how community land disputes, which frequently occur in Tivland, can have an impact on security. Due to ownership claims to land rights, families, towns, states, and even entire countries have turned against one another. This work will also add to the many publications, such as journals and textbooks, that have been highlighting the risks associated with community land conflicts and how to resolve them. Knowing the underlying causes of community land disputes will aid policy makers both domestically and internationally in developing solutions to lessen the harmful effects of disputes in the future. Making long-term decisions that destroy community land challenges chauvinism and its ramifications for Tivland’s security.