Benue State has faced a decade-long wave of insecurity, with suspected armed herder attacks dating back to 2013.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

One of the deadliest episodes occurred between late February and March 2016, when suspected herders killed between 300 and 500 people in Agatu Local Government Area, displacing more than 7,000 residents.

On March 4, 2018, another tragedy struck Omusu village in Edumoga, Okpokwu LGA, just a day after then-President Muhammadu Buhari promised to visit Benue. In that attack, 26 people, including children, were killed.

More bloodshed followed on June 7, 2021, when at least 40 people were massacred in Odugbeho, Agatu LGA.

The most recent atrocity occurred on June 14, 2025, in Yelwata, a border community between Nasarawa and Benue States, less than 40 minutes from Makurdi. Armed men invaded the village at midnight, killing over 100 people, burning homes, and leaving survivors traumatised. Reports indicate that some victims were burnt alive, while others were shot while fleeing.

The massacre triggered widespread outrage from civil society organisations, political leaders, entertainers, and community stakeholders.

Diverse Reactions from Leaders and Civil Society

Former APC senatorial candidate Comrade Daniel Onjeh condemned the killings in a statement, insisting the attack was not a farmer-herder clash but a deliberate and coordinated assault by armed militias. He called on President Bola Tinubu to treat the Benue crisis as a national emergency rooted in political sabotage, land-grabbing, and terrorism.

Similarly, the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancement (ISRCA) dismissed the narrative of farmer-herder clashes, describing the violence as terrorism. This contradicts the position of Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, who identified land disputes and cattle rustling as key causes of the conflict.

Prominent historian and President of Ochetoha K’Idoma, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, traced the unrest to historical, political, and economic failures spanning nearly 200 years, blaming long-standing elite mistrust and governance breakdowns.

Tinubu’s Visit and Federal Government Response

In the aftermath of the Yelwata killings, President Tinubu visited Benue and directed the formation of a Benue Elders’ Peace Committee, comprising former governors, traditional rulers, and non-indigenes. He urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to embrace inclusivity and act as a unifying leader.

The president also mandated security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the Yelwata massacre, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to ending the violence.

Traditional and Former Leaders Speak Out

During Tinubu’s visit, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, rejected the farmer-herder conflict narrative, calling the violence a calculated “genocidal invasion” and land-grabbing campaign by armed terrorists.

Former Governor Samuel Ortom, through his aide Terver Akase, expressed grief over the killings, calling for peace while avoiding political grandstanding. Akase said Ortom stands with the victims and believes Tinubu’s visit may trigger concrete action.

Ortom’s Security Legacy

Ortom’s administration, beginning in 2015, enacted the 2017 Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, aimed at preventing farm destruction and promoting ranching. The law established penalties for cattle rustling and open grazing violations and created a special enforcement unit, the Livestock Guards.

Akase said Ortom also provided logistics to security agencies and ensured continuous cooperation in fighting attacks.

Governor Alia’s Technology-Driven Approach

Since taking office in May 2023, Governor Hyacinth Alia has taken a tech-focused approach to insecurity. His administration signed agreements for deploying surveillance systems and launched the Benue Civil Protection Guards, deploying 5,000 personnel—with plans for 5,000 more.

Under Operation Anyam Nyor, Alia mobilised a multi-agency task force, distributed 600 motorcycles and 100 Hilux trucks, and enhanced security coordination.

Is There Hope?

Opinions remain divided on whether Tinubu’s visit will bring lasting change. While some believe the federal government’s renewed attention and directives signify hope, others are skeptical.

Still, with the formation of the Elders’ Peace Committee and increased military pressure on perpetrators, many observers remain cautiously optimistic that peace may finally return to Benue.