Herdsmen clashes are a major contributor to the ongoing insecurity clashes in Nigeria. Conflicts between the herdsmen and farmers over the use of land for grazing and farming has been on a tremendous increase. Over 10,000 pastoralists have been killed, and over two million families have been displaced in the last eight years as a result of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, and general insecurity in the country.

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Solving this complex issue requires a multi-faceted and proactive approach from every stakeholder involved. Animal traceability provides a lasting solution to this recurrent challenge. Animal traceability, which refers to the ability to track the movement and location of livestock, could be one solution to the insecurity issues caused by herdsmen in Nigeria. By implementing a system of animal traceability, the government and other relevant organizations would be able to more effectively monitor the movement and activities of herdsmen, which could help to reduce the likelihood of clashes between them and other groups.

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Animal traceability could be used to enforce grazing laws and regulations, which could help to address insecurity issues caused by herdsmen. For example, the government could ensure that herdsmen are not grazing their cattle on land that is protected or reserved for other uses, such as farming or conservation, by using traceability technology-Ranch.ID-provided by the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) to track the movement of cattle. This could help to reduce the likelihood of conflicts between herders and farmers or other land users. Ranch.ID is a user-friendly digital solution that collects and stores data of livestock. Ranch.ID employs 2-dimensional data matrix codes on ear tags to capture relevant information of the livestock.

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Another way that animal traceability could be used to address insecurity issues caused by herdsmen is by using it to monitor the activities of herdsmen in areas where there is a high risk of violence. For example, by utilizing Ranch.ID to track the movement of cattle in areas where there have been previous clashes between herdsmen and other groups, the government could more effectively identify potential hotspots of violence and take steps to prevent them.

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Animal traceability can also be used to monitor the movement of cattle and ensure that they are not stolen or taken across the border. By using traceability technology (Ranch.ID) to track the movement of cattle, the government and other stakeholders could ensure that herdsmen are not engaging in illegal activities such as cattle rustling, which can be a significant source of insecurity in some regions of Nigeria.

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In conclusion, animal traceability through the NAITS could be an effective solution to the insecurity issues caused by herdsmen in Nigeria by providing a better monitoring and control of the movement and activities of herdsmen, including enforcing laws and regulations related to grazing, preventing illegal activities such as cattle rustling and monitoring activities in areas where there is a high risk of violence.

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