Farmer–herder conflict has become a defining feature of rural insecurity in northern Nigeria, shaping everyday life in ways that undermine livelihoods, weaken food systems, and strain long‑standing social relations. This paper offers a detailed examination of the structural and contextual forces driving conflict in Katsina State, drawing directly on the conceptual foundations of the wider research. The analysis positions the conflict within a set of interlocking pressures that include rapid population growth, intensifying environmental stress, expanding land‑use competition, and persistent governance challenges. These pressures have altered the conditions under which farming and pastoral communities interact, particularly as historical grazing arrangements lose credibility, institutional enforcement becomes inconsistent, and mobility patterns shift in response to ecological and security constraints.

The paper argues that farmer–herder conflict in Katsina cannot be understood as a series of isolated disputes or as a simple struggle over scarce resources. Instead, it reflects deeper forms of structural vulnerability that shape how communities perceive risk, negotiate access, and respond to threats. Institutional fragility, declining trust in state authority, and the erosion of customary mechanisms further compound these pressures, creating an environment in which minor disputes can escalate rapidly. By foregrounding these structural dynamics, the paper challenges narrow, security‑led interpretations and highlights the need for integrated, preventive approaches that recognise the social, environmental, and governance dimensions of rural conflict.

The contribution of the paper lies in its grounded account of how local conditions in Katsina State shape conflict trajectories and influence the prospects for effective state engagement. The analysis establishes a conceptual platform for subsequent papers that investigate socioeconomic determinants and evaluate the performance of specific intervention mechanisms. In doing so, it supports a more comprehensive understanding of how farmer–herder conflict evolves and how policy responses might be designed to address its underlying drivers.