Benue Conflicts and Governmental Helplessness

The Benue State of Nigeria is perhaps as unsafe as any severely terrorised territory. That valley of green vegetation that correctly prides itself as the nation’s food basket appears to have become a valley of blood flowing from constantly marauded agrarian communities. It is indeed one of the most persistent violence related to contestations for livelihood. It is estimated that between 2015 and 2023, herders have killed 5,138 farmers in Benue State. A few outstanding incidences of attacks with mass murder include that of the Agatu community in 2016, in which about 300 lives were lost. The Agatu attack, according to a Fulani leader, was a reprisal against the killing of one Shehu Abdullahi of the Fulani stock and carting away of over 200 cows from his house in April 2013.The Agatu attack, according to a Fulani leader, was a reprisal against the killing of one Shehu Abdullahi of the Fulani stock and carting away of over 200 cows from his house in April 2013. There was also the invasion of Logo and Guma Local Government Areas on new year’s Day of 2018 which led to the killing of about 70 persons. Just one month ago, in April 2023, another attack in Mgban and Otukpo Local Government Areas led to the death of  74 persons. Over six months from November 2022 to April 2023, the Nextier Violent Conflict Database reports 98 deaths in Benue State in farmer-herder conflicts alone.

On that note, this edition of Nextier SPD Policy Weekly reflects on the conflicts in Benue State and the attitude of the state authorities that verges on learned helplessness.

Click here to download report