Department of Christian Studies

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The Concept of Restitution in Exodus 22:5-6 as a Panacea to Conflict between Fulani Herdsmen and Crop Farmers in Nigeria
(Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos., 2019-07) Okunoye, J. O. and Fawenu, Bamidele Olusegun
Herdsmen-farmers conflict in Nigeria has grown, spread and intensified over the past decade and today pose a threat to national peace, commonwealth and survival. Thousands have lost their lives, property worth billions of naira have been destroyed and one major challenge facing the effective management of the conflict is the refusal to pay compensation by the offending parties when required to do so. Moreover, the link between agriculture and conflict has still not received sufficient analysis and discussion. The Old Testament concept of restitution (Ex. 22: 5–6), a compulsory payment/compensation (at the highest estimate) paid to the farmer whose field/vineyard was damaged by another man’s cattle is relevant here. This paper therefore adopts historical and theological approaches in examining the concept of restitution in Old Testament as relating to herdsmen–farmers’ crisis in Nigeria. The paper posits that this concept of restitution be adopted as a policy and given institutional and constitutional support, while making efforts to proffer lasting solution.