Emerging data shows important changes in the context and dynamics of the herder-farmer conflict in Delta state. Clashes between farmers and herders over access to land for farming and grazing have been recurrent in the state since 2017. Recent incidents indicate that the conflict is becoming increasingly intertwined with violent criminality including kidnapping and armed banditry, especially in Oshimili North, Ughelli North and Aniocha North LGAs. According to data (see map below), criminal violence relating to the herder-farmer conflict caused over 200 fatalities in Delta state between January 2017 and April 2020. In February 2020, for instance, over 10 farmers were reportedly killed by suspected herds-men in three communities in Uwheru, Ughelli North LGA. Recently, communal tensions escalated following a series of criminal violence involv-ing herdsmen in the state. On May 7, 2020, two members of a local vigilante group were reportedly killed by suspected armed herdsmen in Okpanam, Oshimili North LGA. The incident reportedly triggered a reprisal attack on a settlement belonging to some herders in the area.
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