The renewed attacks on communities in Benue State have sparked fresh concerns among residents and stakeholders.
This follows revelations by Hon. Terseer Ugbor, the representative of Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency, who disclosed that armed Fulani herdsmen have taken over 40% of the state’s farmlands.
Speaking to journalists, Ugbor expressed concerns over recent violent attacks by Fulani militias, which have led to the killing and displacement of several people in Kwande Local Government Area (LGA).
“The biggest issue is the impending food insecurity this crisis will cause, not just in Benue but across Nigeria. Based on the latest reports, over 40% of arable farmland in the state is now occupied by Fulani bandits,” he said.
Ugbor recalled the 2024 Christmas attack on Kwande LGA, a border community with Cameroon, where herdsmen reportedly burned down an immigration outpost—the only existing security post in the area.
Beyond Kwande, six people were also killed by suspected herdsmen in Okpamaju community of Okete Ward and Asa settlement of Ewulo Ward in Otukpo LGA. The attack, which occurred during a hunting expedition, forced women and children to flee in fear.
The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, confirmed the attacks, attributing them to open grazing disputes, which allegedly escalated into violent clashes, resulting in two deaths.
Benue State has endured a decade of violent attacks by suspected herdsmen. Just last year, armed herders ravaged the Adoka district of Otukpo LGA, killing scores and destroying crops worth millions of naira.
Although Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration claims to have curbed the violence, attacks on farmers and rural communities persist, leaving many villagers vulnerable.
In response, the Benue State House of Assembly has urged the government to take immediate action to halt what they describe as genocide and deploy security forces to restore order.
This appeal followed a motion by Hon. Kennedy Angbo, the representative of Otukpo/Apa State Constituency, who informed the House of the worsening crisis.
Contributing to the debate, Deputy Speaker Hon. Mrs. Lami Dalandi condemned the destruction caused by the herdsmen invasion and called for proactive security measures.
Idoma Community in Diaspora Speaks Out
The Idoma community in the diaspora, comprising members from the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Vietnam, and other countries, has condemned the ongoing killings in Idoma land.
Edwin Ochai, the group’s president, criticized authorities’ silence on the crisis, accusing political, traditional, and religious leaders of failing to act decisively.
“What began in Agatu LGA has now spread to Apa, Otukpo, and other parts of Benue South, leaving behind bloodshed, destruction, and despair,” he lamented.
Ochai decried the lack of meaningful government action, stating that mere press statements condemning the attacks are insufficient.
“It is distressing that the Benue State Government appears indifferent to the plight of Benue South. Are we no longer part of the state? Their failure to act is a betrayal of the primary duty of governance—protecting lives and property,” he said.
Locals Speak on the Crisis
Hon. Kennedy Angbo, the Otukpo-Akpa lawmaker, described the unrelenting attacks as a threat to public safety, even affecting students at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, who now live in fear.
One resident, Sunday Oga, recounted how he was chased from his farm by a gun-wielding herder, leaving behind his harvested yams and farm produce.
A hunter from Okpomaju also detailed a violent encounter, saying, “We were on a routine hunting exercise when a group of Fulani herdsmen ambushed us, firing indiscriminately.
“We fought back, killing one of them, but we lost two of our colleagues, and another was severely injured and rushed to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.”
Traditional and Local Government Response
The Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, announced plans to meet with Fulani leaders to find a lasting solution to the crisis. He, however, dismissed allegations that local chiefs were accepting payments from herders to allow grazing.
Similarly, Otukpo LGA Chairman, Ogiri, condemned the attack and urged the federal government to intervene. He confirmed that soldiers and police officers had been deployed to Okpomaju to restore peace.
He also noted that Fulani leaders had agreed to identify any criminal elements among them and work towards a peaceful coexistence with Otukpo residents.
Despite these assurances, fear lingers in affected communities, with many villagers abandoning their homes and farms, raising serious concerns over food security in the state.