Rhetorical Visions of Fulani-Herdsmen Conflict in the Nigerian Press: A Fantasy Theme Analysis

Abstract

There has been a recurrent rate of prevalent and pervasive violent conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria. Issues emanating from environmental degradation, and socio-political disorder have shifted pastoralist migratory patterns and increased tensions between farmers and herders. This, however, has influenced conflicts and hostility between farmers and herders, leading to violent clashes, killings, forced displacement, attrition of inter-communal interactions, as well as the annihilation of agricultural and livestock outputs. The Nigerian press, however, has successfully created a shared meaning of the Fulani-herdsmen activities in the country within a particular rhetoric community. These include agents with different characteristics in a similar/different setting, taking several actions, thereby formulating a particular rhetorical vision. The major rhetorical vision established in this paper is conflict and the underlying symbolic reality of peace. This paper examined articles in the Nigerian press as related to Fulani-herdsmen’s activities and the fantasy themes embedded in it.