Daniel Otera
Benue State, often called Nigeria’s food basket for its rich farmlands, has long been a place where farmers till the soil and herders seek pasture for their cattle. But beneath this shared landscape lies a deep-rooted conflict that has turned deadly, pitting communities against each other in a struggle over land, water, and survival. The clashes between mostly Christian farmers and predominantly Muslim Fulani herders trace back to colonial times, when traditional systems like the “burti” agreement allowed herders to pass through farmlands in exchange for fertilising the soil with cattle dung. Things changed in the 1970s as farmers claimed more land due to population growth and urban expansion, blocking old migration routes. Climate change has made it worse desertification in the north pushes herders south into the Middle Belt, where irregular rains and shrinking resources spark fights. Experts like Kabir Adamu from Beacon Security say environmental stress, rapid population rise, and weak government policies create a vicious cycle of migration and violence.
What started as small disputes over crop damage has escalated into organised attacks, often with ethnic and religious undertones. Since democracy returned in 1999, the Middle Belt has seen thousands killed, with Benue and Plateau at the heart of it. Groups like Genocide Watch label it a genocide against Christians by Fulani jihadists, placing Nigeria at stages 9 and 10 of extermination and denial. The United Nations reports over 15,000 deaths from farmer-herder violence across West and Central Africa since 2010, with Nigeria bearing the brunt more than 2,000 in 2018 alone, six times deadlier than Boko Haram that year. In Benue, over 1,043 people died between May 2023 and May 2025, according to security databases.
Past efforts, like anti-open grazing laws in Benue since 2017, aimed to promote ranching but faced resistance from herders who see it as a threat to their nomadic life. Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s grazing reserves plan was rejected by southern states as land-grabbing. Today, militias on both sides use AK-47s and machetes, turning minor rows into massacres. The economic cost is huge Benue lost N95 billion from 2012 to 2014 due to disrupted farming, and the federal government loses billions yearly in revenue. Over 300,000 displaced in Benue alone, with IDPs facing hunger and disease in camps. Faith groups like the National Inter-Religious Council have mediated, but without strong state action, the cycle continues.
The latest horror unfolded on 13 June 2025, when armed assailants stormed Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area, killing over 100 people, injuring hundreds, and razing homes and markets. Witnesses described gunmen arriving before midnight, overpowering local youths and police, and setting fire to market stalls where IDPs sheltered. Many burned alive inside, including entire families. The National Emergency Management Agency reported 100 deaths, including two soldiers and one NSCDC officer, with 46 rushed to hospitals 20 later died. Locals and Amnesty International put the toll at over 200, with 6,500 displaced. This was the third attack on Yelwata in a week, after earlier raids killed dozens. President Bola Tinubu visited Makurdi in mid-June, calling the killings “senseless bloodletting.” He urged security chiefs to act and instructed Benue and Nasarawa governments to form a peace committee. Attacks persisted, though, with more in Gwer West and Apa LGAs claiming over 50 lives in June alone.
In response, the Nigerian government has charged nine persons allegedly linked to these deadly attacks in Benue State and parts of Plateau State. Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Muhammad Abubakar filed six separate cases at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, charging the nine defendants in pairs and singly with acts of terrorism, including attacks and killings in Benue State, and other sundry offences such as illegal possession of firearms. The charges also include planning and being part of preparation for acts of terrorism, carrying out reprisals and illegal buying and selling of firearms.
In the first case, the prosecution charged Haruna Adamu, 26, and Muhammad Abdullahi, 48, both of Awe LGA, Nasarawa State, and others said to still be at large with participating in a meeting linked to acts of terrorism and the killings in Abinsi and Yelwata villages, Guma LGA of Benue State. They were said to have conspired with Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, Pyeure Damina, and others to plan the attacks. Messrs Adamu and Abdullahi were charged under sections 12 and 29 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Section 12 criminalises participation in or facilitation of meetings or activities that are known to be connected with terrorism or terrorist groups. Specifically, it stipulates it is an offence to arrange, manage, assist in arranging or managing, or participate in a meeting or activity tied to terrorism or a terrorist group. Likewise, the provision criminalises collecting or providing logistics, equipment, information, articles, or facilities for such a meeting or activity. Conviction under Section 12 carries a minimum imprisonment term of 10 years imprisonment. Section 29 criminalises preparation to commit acts of terrorism. This typically includes any anticipation or planning phase before carrying out a terrorist act.
The second case involves two adult male suspects, Terkende Ashuwa, 46, and Amos Alede, 44, of Guma LGA, charged with three counts connected with carrying out reprisals against terror suspects involved in Abinsi and Yelwata. They allegedly attended a meeting at Coach Bar, Daudu Town, also in Guma LGA of Benue State, which led to acts of terrorism, destruction of private property, and the loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam Village in the same local government area. The prosecution alleged that in July, they conspired to carry out further attacks and received support, including locally made guns and AK-47 rifles, from Alhaji Uba. Their alleged offences are said to contravene sections 12, 13, and 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
In the third case, a 32-year-old woman, Halima Haliru Umar of Faskari LGA, Katsina State, faces four counts of terrorism. She allegedly transported 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition to bandits in July and concealed information about Alhaji Sani, a suspected gun runner, bandit, and kidnapper. Her actions were said to contravene sections 6 and 13 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
The fourth case charged Nanbol Tali, 75, and Timnan Manjo, 46, of the Baptist Church in Mangu LGA, Plateau State, with four counts of buying and selling two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles without a licence for N3 million. They allegedly possessed firearms, purchased three long-range revolvers at N60,000 each from one Chomo to resell to bandits, and bought two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles at N300,000 from one Vom to sell at N400,000. Their alleged offences, the prosecution said, contravened Section 9 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 27 of the Firearms Act, 2024.
The prosecution filed the fifth case against Danjuma Antu, 62, of Jos North LGA, Plateau State, charged with five counts of unlawful possession of two locally fabricated pistols capable of discharging 9mm ammunition, contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act, punishable under Section 27. Silas Iduh Oloche of Agatu LGA, Benue State, faces six counts of unlawful possession of 18 firearms (grenades) without a licence. He was arrested on 2 August with 683 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act.
No date has been fixed for the trial. These charges show the government’s push to treat the violence as terrorism, not just clashes, amid calls for faster justice.
Despite interventions, attacks continue. In August, Aye-Twar in Katsina-Ala LGA was attacked. St. Paul’s Parish and other community facilities were destroyed, forcing residents to flee. The attack highlighted the persistence of insecurity in Benue State and the ongoing threat to civilians, despite repeated interventions. The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association called it a “genocidal attack,” with the church, rectory, and vehicles burned. Over 26 outstations shut down, and locals fled to Taraba State hideouts. This follows a pattern 119 attacks in Makurdi Diocese alone in 2023 killed 414.
Governor Hyacinth Alia says it’s beyond farmer-herder issues, now bandits and terrorists. Protests erupted, with women blocking roads, demanding protection.
As Benue bleeds, experts warn of a humanitarian crisis. Over 450,000 IDPs in Benue, many farmers unable to plant, risking food shortages. The UN urges investigations, while groups like Open Doors call for global pressure. Without addressing root land reform, security, and justice the violence will persist, displacing more and deepening divides.