Nigeria: 42 Killed in Benue State Attacks Blamed on Herders

Nigeria: 42 Killed in Benue State Attacks

Forty-two people have been killed in Benue State, central Nigeria, following attacks attributed to nomadic herders. The violence occurred across four communities, marking the latest surge in a long-standing conflict between Fulani herders and local farmers.

Details of the Attacks

According to local official Victor Omnin, ten died in Tyolaha and Tse-Ubiam villages on Saturday, while 32 were killed the following day in Ahume and Aondona. A Catholic priest was also shot and critically wounded.

Residents report the killings included women and young children.

Root Causes of the Conflict

The herder-farmer conflict in Nigeria's central and northwestern regions is fueled by disputes over land, exacerbated by climate change and population growth. Farmers accuse herders of land grabbing and ethnic cleansing, while herders seek grazing land for their livestock.

Data indicates over 2,347 casualties in farmer-herder incidents between 2020 and 2024.

Impact on Agriculture

The violence has disrupted farming in Benue, the "Food Basket of the Nation". Calls are mounting for the full implementation of a 2017 law banning open grazing and establishing ranches to mitigate the conflict.