A fresh wave of deadly violence has engulfed Benue State in central Nigeria, leaving more than 200 people dead in a matter of days. The killings, described by President Bola Tinubu as “inhuman and anti-progress,” have reignited long-standing tensions between herders and farmers in the region, sparking protests in the state capital Makurdi and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
The conflict is rooted in a decades-long struggle over land and resources between nomadic herders, primarily from the Fulani ethnic group, and largely Christian farming communities. Herders, in search of pasture for their livestock amid climate change-induced desertification in northern Nigeria, have increasingly migrated southward into Benue. This has escalated confrontations with farmers, who accuse the herders of destroying crops and polluting water sources.
According to security analyst Kabir Adamu, at least 1,043 people were killed in Benue between May 2023 and May 2025. While Fulani leaders deny involvement in the recent killings, the conflict remains driven by cycles of retaliation and deeply rooted mistrust. Environmental degradation, rapid population growth, and limited arable land have only intensified the competition and violence.
Efforts by both state and federal governments have so far failed to quell the unrest. Initiatives such as the federal joint task force in 2018 and the newly introduced Forest Guards have not been enough. Critics argue the government has focused more on other security issues like Boko Haram in the northeast and banditry in the northwest neglecting the Middle Belt’s persistent crises.
Analysts agree that a lasting solution must address both security and economic concerns. This includes deploying intelligence-driven forces and creating sustainable grazing alternatives to reduce conflict over farmland. Public affairs commentator Sam Philip notes that unless the government prioritizes the region’s needs and acts decisively, the violence will likely persist.
As Benue reels from this latest tragedy, many fear that without meaningful intervention, the cycle of violence will continue, with devastating consequences for Nigeria’s fragile unity and rural stability.
