Forty-two people were killed over the weekend in central Nigeria’s Benue State in a wave of violent attacks attributed to itinerant herders, escalating the long-running conflict between Fulani herders and Indigenous farmers.
Local official Victor Omnin confirmed that 10 people died in attacks on Tyolaha and Tse-Ubiam villages on Saturday, while 32 more were killed on Sunday in nearby Ahume and Aondona villages. “It’s a pathetic situation,” Omnin said, noting that recovery efforts were still ongoing.
Reports indicate women and children as young as two were among the victims. A Catholic priest was also shot and critically injured. The governor’s office confirmed the priest was in a stable condition.
The herders-farmers conflict in Nigeria’s middle belt has intensified due to land scarcity, climate change, and population pressures. While analysts highlight environmental and economic drivers, many locals cite ethnic cleansing and land-grabbing as motives.
According to the Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database by Nextier, over 2,300 people have died in 359 documented clashes between 2020 and 2024. Experts believe the actual toll is likely higher due to underreporting.
Benue State, known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation,” has seen agricultural disruptions due to the violence. A 2017 anti-open grazing law aimed at curbing the crisis remains poorly implemented, according to residents.
In April, 56 people were reportedly killed during Easter attacks in the state, highlighting the religious undertones of the conflict, with Muslim herders and Christian farmers on opposing sides.
Swifteradio.com
