Fresh violence in Benue State has reignited concerns among residents and stakeholders as armed Fulani herdsmen reportedly take control of vast farmlands, leading to widespread displacement and killings.
Hon. Terseer Ugbor, the lawmaker representing Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency, revealed that over 40% of the state's arable farmland has been seized by Fulani militias.
Speaking with journalists, Ugbor highlighted the grave consequences of these invasions, warning that food insecurity looms large over Benue and the nation at large.
Ugbor recounted the harrowing attack on Kwande Local Government Area (LGA) during Christmas 2024, where Fulani herdsmen reportedly razed an immigration outpost, the sole security presence at the border with Cameroon.
"The outpost lacked the necessary arms and equipment to defend itself," he lamented, painting a grim picture of the region’s vulnerability. Beyond Kwande, the violence has also struck Otukpo LGA, where six people were killed in separate attacks in Okpamaju and Asa settlement.
According to reports, the assailants targeted villagers on a hunting expedition, prompting mass displacement as women and children fled their homes in terror.
Confirming the unrest, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, attributed the violence to a dispute over open grazing on farmlands. She noted that a confrontation between locals and herdsmen over grazing rights escalated into deadly clashes, resulting in multiple casualties.
Recurring Attacks Despite Government Assurances
Benue State has endured relentless attacks by suspected herdsmen for over a decade, with large-scale killings and destruction of farmlands occurring annually.
Just a year ago, armed herders unleashed terror in Adoka district, Otukpo LGA, killing scores and decimating farm produce worth millions of naira.
Despite Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration claiming significant progress in tackling the violence, incidents of farmer killings persist, leaving rural communities at the mercy of armed invaders.
Reacting to the latest carnage, the Benue State House of Assembly has called for immediate government intervention. A motion by Hon. Kennedy Angbo (Otukpo/Apa State Constituency) urged the state to take decisive action to halt the ongoing "genocide" and deploy security forces to restore order.
Deputy Speaker Hon. Lami Dalandi also expressed outrage over the unchecked invasion of Benue communities, stressing that proactive measures must be taken to prevent further devastation.
The Idoma community in the diaspora, with members in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and Vietnam, has condemned the government’s silence on the growing crisis.
Edwin Ochai, the group’s president, criticized the lack of tangible action from local and federal leaders, stating that mere condemnations without concrete security efforts were futile.
“What began in Agatu LGA has now spread to Otukpo and other parts of Benue South, leaving a trail of bloodshed and destruction. The government’s inaction is a betrayal of its duty to protect citizens,” Ochai stated.
Residents of the affected communities narrated horrifying experiences of being chased from their lands by armed herders. Sunday Oga, a displaced farmer, tearfully recounted how he was forced to flee, leaving behind his harvested yams and other crops to be devoured by cattle.
A hunter from Okpamaju, who narrowly escaped death, described how his group was ambushed by armed Fulani herdsmen during a routine hunting trip.
“They fired at us immediately, killing two of my colleagues on the spot. We had to retaliate, managing to take down one of them before they retreated. But we lost two men, and another was rushed to the hospital with a bullet wound in his stomach,” he said.
The attacks have created an atmosphere of fear, with entire communities in Otukpo LGA including Odudaje, Amla, and Emichi abandoning their homes.
Villagers warn that if the government fails to act urgently, Benue’s agricultural backbone will collapse, further worsening the state’s economic crisis.
In response to the crisis, the paramount ruler of Otukpo, Chief John Eimonye, has scheduled a meeting with herdsmen leaders in a bid to find a peaceful resolution.
However, he dismissed allegations that local chiefs were complicit in allowing the herders access to grazing land in exchange for money, calling such claims "baseless and damaging."
Similarly, Otukpo LGA Chairman, Ogiri, has urged the federal government to step in and prevent further bloodshed. He assured residents that security personnel, including soldiers and police officers, have been deployed to Okpamaju to maintain order.
Despite these efforts, locals remain skeptical, fearing that without swift and decisive action, the attacks will continue unabated. “Our people are being slaughtered, and we are left to fend for ourselves.
How can we farm when we live in fear of being killed?” a distraught resident questioned. As Benue State grapples with these unrelenting attacks, the question remains will the government rise to the occasion, or will the cycle of bloodshed and displacement continue?