SAPIENTIA Journal of Philosophy

It is no longer in doubt that the frequent clashes between the herders and farmers over the years have debilitating effects on the economy and overall development of Nigeria. The causes of the clashes stem from such factors as scarce or limited amount of resources, incompatibility of values, ethnic chauvinism, indigenes/settler’s phenomenon, among others. These conflicts could be likened to the intellectual feud in philosophical arena between the rationalists and empiricists about the authentic source of knowledge prior to Kantian intervention. In an attempt to mediate, Kant agreed with the positions of both the rationalists and empiricists. However, he advised that none of the positions taken in isolation could account for the authentic source of knowledge, hence, he advocated for a compromise. This work attempts through a historical excurses to broker a reconciliation and understanding between the herders and farmers in Nigeria. The data is mainly generated from secondary sources. The content analysis method of research is employed. It is the contention of this work that a sincere negotiation and mediation couched with a give and take situation would, if not completely curbed, at least, minimally reduce the incidence of herders and farmers clashes in Nigeria.

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