Benue Killings: From Farm to Fear; the Crisis Destroying Benue and Nigeria’s Future
By Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, Former Presidential Aspirant of the Labour Party and Founder of the Rescue Movement for New Nigeria
My heartfelt condolences go to the good people of Benue State for the horrific massacre of innocent men, women, and children, souls who did not deserve such a brutal end in the dead of night.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and North Central region, is home to the Tiv, Idoma, Igede, and other indigenous peoples. Known nationwide as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” Benue produces large quantities of yams, cassava, and rice, feeding millions of Nigerians every day. Its people are peaceful, hospitable, and hardworking, which have long defined this great state.
Yet today, Benue is bleeding.
The killings and violence plaguing the state are not random or sudden. They are born from deep-rooted neglect, betrayal, political greed, and the failure of leadership. It is time we speak the truth.
Root Causes of the Benue Killings
One of the flashpoints of this crisis is the controversial case of Terwase Akwaza, widely known as Gana, a feared figure in Benue. While the government branded him a terrorist, many in the Sankera axis saw him as a local protector. His killing by government forces shattered a fragile balance and, according to many, emboldened Fulani herdsmen who had previously treaded cautiously.
Traditional rulers are not without blame. Some have accepted cattle and cash from Fulani herders, sold off ancestral lands, and even invested in cow rearing, aligning with herders against their own communities. This betrayal is especially painful in a state where the people traditionally prefer pork over beef.
Political corruption has made the situation worse. Politicians fund and arm local youths with charms and weapons to win elections. After elections, these armed youths turn on their own people, robbing, intimidating, and destabilizing their communities. Once-safe areas like Sankera now grapple with armed robbery and lawlessness.
The political divide among armed youth groups aligned with various caucuses, Ortom, Alia, Akume, and Suswam, has splintered Benue into factions. These rifts force some youths into the forests, where they become bandits who descend into towns at night to loot and kill.
Farming Crisis: The Threat to Nigeria’s Food Security
Benue’s farmers suffer repeated destruction of their crops by Fulani cattle. When they demand compensation, they are met with violence instead of justice. These retaliatory attacks only perpetuate a cycle of bloodshed and fear. Farmlands lie abandoned, food production has plummeted, and hunger looms across Nigeria.
Youth unemployment and lack of education deepen the crisis. Many of those causing chaos have never received a primary school certificate, never left their villages, and know no other life. In desperation, they turn to armed groups, extorting locals, stealing livestock, and attacking villages.
The Complicity of Nasarawa State
Nasarawa has become a sanctuary for terrorists and Fulani militias who launch attacks into Benue before retreating back. This silent betrayal of offering shelter and resources to killers while pretending to stand with Benue has caused untold losses in lives and property.
Benue cannot know peace if Nasarawa remains a launchpad for destruction. The state deserves leadership that prioritizes justice and security over ethnic loyalty.
The National Implication
This is no longer a local issue. When Benue farmers cannot farm, the ripple effects are felt across Nigeria. Food becomes scarce. Prices rise. Families suffer. Businesses collapse. The economy weakens. The security of Benue is the security of Nigeria.
The decline of agriculture in Benue threatens not just livelihoods, but national stability. We cannot afford to lose the Food Basket of the Nation to unchecked terrorism and political complacency.
Hope in Action: The Relocation of the Chief of Army Staff
The recent relocation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to Benue must not be symbolic. It must signal a decisive shift.
We demand:
Honest and effective deployment of security forces.
Zero tolerance for corruption at checkpoints.
Proactive patrols in all villages.
Identification and elimination of terrorist hideouts.
Military intelligence and aerial surveillance in affected zones.
Community Vigilance Is Key
While federal intervention is crucial, the people of Benue must rise to secure their homes. Local vigilante groups must be trained, equipped, and supported. These are the people who understand the terrain, the culture, and the threats. With government backing, they can protect farmlands, resist attacks, and restore peace.
Unity Over Division: The Politicians Must Wake Up
The rivalry between Ortom, Alia, Akume, Suswam, and their loyalists has weakened Benue’s collective strength. These personal ambitions are tearing the state apart. If Benue must stand, it must stand together. Now is the time to set aside egos, close ranks, and unite for survival and future development.
A Direct Message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
As you visit Benue tomorrow, June 18th, Mr. President, we urge you to come with open ears and an open heart. Hear the cries from Yelwata and every other grieving village. Let not your visit be a photo opportunity, but a turning point.
We demand:
Deployment of intelligent and committed officers.
Full implementation of the anti-open grazing law.
Satellite surveillance and CCTV installations in hotspots.
Presence of the Inspector General of Police in Benue, especially in Sankera axis.
A declaration of a State of Emergency if things don’t improve immediately.
Conclusion: Benue Must Rise Again
Benue is not a battleground. It is a blessing to Nigeria, a cradle of agriculture, a land of resilience, and a symbol of hope. The killings must stop. The betrayals must end. The silence must be broken.
This is a call for unity. A call for truth. A call for action. And a call to every Nigerian: defend Benue, and you defend Nigeria.
Enough is enough.
