Abstract
The activities of Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria would hardly be extricated from the
activities of other terrorist groups by way of trans-national linkages and influences
which is the core focus of this study. The persistent escalation in the bloody and lethal
massacre of farmers/locals may largely be attributed to external linkages as a major
trigger to the exacerbation of the Fulani pastoral violence and the level of
sophistication of weaponry with its devastating effects on the socio-economic
development of Nigeria. This study was guided by two research questions and two
objectives which are to determine how external linkages exacerbated Fulani pastoral
violence in Nigeria and to examine the government responses to Fulani pastoral
violence in Nigeria. The theory of mobility transition was adopted to analyse the
competing interests between Fulani pastoralists and farmers. Both quantitative and
qualitative data was adopted. The study made use of 500 sample size. Analysis was
done using mean and standard deviation, with a criterion mean value of 2.50. From the
analysis, the study found that, external linkages majorly exacerbated Fulani pastoral
violence in Nigeria. The study equally revealed that, government response to Fulani
pastoral violence in Nigeria has not been encouraging, comprehensive and proactive.
Thus, the study concluded that only effective and proactive efforts on the part of
government can cut down the external linkages of Fulani pastoralists with a view to
curtailing their nefarious activities in Nigeria. The study recommended, among others,
that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other relevant agencies of government
at the international borders should be proactive in ensuring strict boarder control and
appropriately implement the ECOWAS transhumance protocol by proper
documentation and scrutiny of foreign immigrants.