Abstract
This study investigated the effects of pastoral violence on the socio-economic
development in South-East Nigeria between 2011 and 2020. Mobility transition theory
was adopted to elucidate the migration of pastoralists from place to place across the
length and breadth of the Nigeria's South-East, occasioned by socio-economic
motives. Mixed method approach, involving quantitative and qualitative data was
adopted. A sample size of 500 which represented persons of ages 15-85, was
determined using Taro Yamane formula. Research questions were analysed using
mean and standard deviation, with a criterion mean value of 2.50. Major findings of the
study were that pastoral violence in South-East Nigeria resulted in greater investment
apathy, low Foreign Direct Investment, destruction of lives, economic crops and cattle,
critical infrastructure and social amenities leading to poor quality of life which are the
cardinal points highlighting the negative impacts of Fulani-herders violence on socioeconomic development in South-East Nigeria. The study concluded that except there
are genuine commitments on the part of the government at all levels and the locals in
tackling head-long the lingering pastoralists' violence in South-East Nigeria, current
efforts at addressing the problem will remain an illusion in view of the transnational
nature of the menace and its negative impacts on the socio-economic development of
the zone in the recent past. The study recommended, among others, that the Nigerian
government should deploy modern technology for intelligence gathering, demonstrate
sincerity and commitment in the use of such information to track the pastoralists and
their sponsors in order to deflate their nefarious activities in the South-East in
particular and Nigeria in general.