Insecurity in Benue State has been ongoing for over a decade, with attacks by suspected armed herders dating as far back as 2013.
Rural communities across Guma, Agatu, Logo, and Makurdi local government areas have repeatedly come under assault, resulting in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and destruction of farmland.
The violence, often described as farmer-herder clashes, has persisted across different administrations with limited long-term solutions.
Between late February and March 2016, suspected herdsmen killed between 300–500 people in Agatu LGA, displacing over 7,000 residents.
Tragedy struck again on March 4, 2018 in Omusu village, Ojigo ward, Edumoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, when suspected herdsmen attacked, killing 26 people, including children. This happened just a day after President Muhammadu Buhari promised to visit the state.
7th June 2021 saw the Odugbeho Massacre where herdsmen killed at least 40 people in Odugbeho, Agatu LGA.
The most recent incident is the June 14 attack on Yelwata community, a border town between Nasarawa and Benue States, located less than 40 minutes’ drive from Makurdi where armed men invaded the village in the middle of the night, killing over 100 people, burning homes, and leaving survivors devastated.
Some victims were reportedly burnt alive, while others were shot as they attempted to flee.
This led to widespread condemnation by CSOs, entertainers, politicians and stakeholders.
Reactions from leaders and CSOs
The recent violence has drawn strong responses from leaders and civil societies.
Comrade Daniel Onjeh, a former senatorial candidate under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue South, in a statement on Monday condemned the massacre in Yelwata.
According to him, the attack is not a clash between farmers and herders as often reported. Instead, he described it as a well-coordinated attack by armed militias that should be treated as a national emergency.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to view the Benue crisis from a broader angle, saying political sabotage, armed militias, and land grabbing were the real issues.
Also, The Initiative For Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA) in a statement revealed that the crisis in Benue State is a clear indication of terrorism and not clashes between two groups as claimed by the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Musa.
Recall that the Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa on Tuesday highlighted three critical issues in the Yelwata massacre by suspected herdsmen.
According to him, there are three-pronged issues to the Benue crisis between farmers and herders, namely land dispute and cattle rustling.
However, President of Ochetoha K’Idoma and respected historian, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, traced the unrelenting wave of violence in Benue State to historical, political and economic factors spanning nearly two centuries.
According to him, the seeds of the unrest were sown over 200 years ago and have been watered by decades of political failure, economic exploitation, and a chronic lack of trust among Nigeria’s ruling elites.
Federal government’s response and presidential visit
The attacks prompted actions such as the relocation of Army personnel to Benue and a visit by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who promised to put an end to the incessant killings plaguing the communities.
The incident also prompted the visit of President Tinubu on Wednesday where he directed that a newly established Committee of Elders for Benue State must include all former governors and the current Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule.
President Tinubu urged Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State to work with all stakeholders and act as a father to everyone in the state, regardless of political or ethnic difference.
The president also ordered the nation’s security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to hunt down those responsible for the recent spate of killings in Benue State.
Tor-Tiv bold stance
Earlier on Wednesday during the president’s visit, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people also known as Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse rejected claims that the killings were as a result of herders/farmers clash.
He told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that, “What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades and is worsening every year.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment. So, we are dealing with something far more sinister than we think about.
“It’s not learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with the war,”; he stressed, calling for an end to the killings.
Ortom speaks to DAILY POST on renewed attacks
Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has expressed deep sadness over the recent attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, which reportedly claimed over 100 lives.
Speaking with DAILY POST through his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom said he stands with the victims of the attack and continues to pray for peace in Benue State.
“We are all affected by what is happening,”; Akase said in an exclusive interview with Daily Post.
“Whether you lost a family member or not, the pain is shared by all of us.”;
Akase said the former governor has decided not to make loud public statements on the incident so it doesn’t appear political or as if he is gloating.
“We don’t want people to say Ortom is celebrating tragedy just to score political points. That is not the case. He feels the pain like everyone else. He stands with the victims, sympathizes with them, and is praying for a lasting solution,”; Akase stated.
He added that president Tinubu visit to Benue will hopefully lead to positive actions.
Ortom’s reflections on security efforts
While reflecting on what Ortom did during his time in office to address insecurity, Akase explained that the attacks on Benue communities had started before Ortom became governor in 2015.
“To find a lasting solution, the Ortom administration introduced the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017,”; he said.
The law, passed by the State Assembly after public hearings, banned open grazing and encouraged ranching as a modern method of livestock rearing.
“The idea was to stop animals from moving freely and destroying people’s farms,”; Akase said.
“The law also included punishments for cattle rustlers and anyone violating the anti-open grazing law.”;
He said a special unit called the Livestock Guards was set up to enforce the law, and many offenders were arrested and prosecuted.
Akase also noted that Ortom worked closely with security agencies throughout his tenure to protect lives and property
“Even though attacks still happened, the government was always supporting security agencies with logistics and coordination. Laws don’t stop crime completely, but they provide a framework to punish offenders,”; he said.
The former governor, through his aide, urged stakeholders to continue seeking peace and justice for the people of Benue.
Gov Alia’s approach to Benue insecurity differs
Since taking office in May 2023, Governor Hyacinth Alia has adopted a more technology-driven and multi-pronged approach to tackling Benue’s long-standing security challenges.
One of his early moves was to sign a memorandum for the deployment of digital surveillance systems, emergency response tools, and an advanced command and control center at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency to improve the monitoring of high-risk zones such as border communities, schools, markets, and IDP camps.
Also, Gov. Alia launched the Benue State Civil Protection Guards on December 14, 2024, fielding 5,000 personnel, later promising another 5,000.
Furthermore, under Operation Anyam Nyor, the governor mobilized a multi-agency task force made up of the military, paramilitary forces, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Civil Protection Guards.
He also deployed 600 motorbikes and 100 Hilux trucks to boost rapid response capabilities
Is a solution in sight?
Many are of the view that President Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State marked a significant step toward addressing the ongoing insecurity. Others have argued, however, that the visit will have no much impacts as expected by the Benue people.
It’s, however, believed that by directing the formation of an inclusive Committee of Elders and ordering security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible, the federal government has shown commitment to restoring peace, hence there is hope.
