In a brutal weekend of violence in Nigeria’s breadbasket region, 42 people, including women and children as young as two years old, were slaughtered in attacks blamed on Fulani herdsmen, highlighting a deadly conflict with religious undertones that continues to devastate farming communities.
Key Takeaways
- 42 people were killed in four communities across Benue state in attacks attributed to Muslim Fulani herders against predominantly Christian farming communities.
- The violence included the shooting of a Catholic priest who is in critical but stable condition, and the killing of women and young children.
- Climate change, overpopulation, and accusations of land-grabbing are exacerbating tensions in Nigeria’s middle belt region.
- Despite a 2017 law banning open grazing in Benue state, lack of enforcement has left farming communities vulnerable to continued attacks.
- The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 2,347 casualties in 359 incidents between 2020 and 2024, disrupting agriculture in Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation.”
Weekend of Terror in Nigeria’s Heartland
A devastating wave of violence swept through Nigeria’s central region over a single weekend, leaving 42 dead in its wake. The attacks, attributed to itinerant Fulani herders, targeted four communities in Benue state, a region known as the “Food Basket of the Nation.” On Saturday, attackers killed 10 people in the Tyolaha and Tse-Ubiam communities. The violence escalated the following day when 32 more people were murdered in Ahume and Aondona. These coordinated assaults represent the latest chapter in a long-standing conflict that threatens not only lives but also Nigeria’s food security and economic stability.
“It’s a pathetic situation. As we speak, we are still recovering corpses,” said Victor Omnin, chair of the Gwer West local government area.
Religious and Cultural Dimensions of the Conflict
The violence in Nigeria’s middle belt has clear religious undertones that the mainstream media often downplays. The Fulani herders are predominantly Muslim, while the farming communities they target are largely Christian. This conflict isn’t merely about resources; it has taken on characteristics of systematic persecution. Among the victims was a Catholic priest who was shot and remains in critical condition. The targeting of religious figures and indiscriminate killing of women and children as young as two years old suggests motives beyond land disputes. This systematic violence against Christian communities represents a pattern that deserves greater international attention.
“The relentless violence must end. Our farmers are the backbone of our economy, yet they live in constant fear,” said Asema Achado.
Failed Policies and Government Inaction
Despite the escalating violence, government responses have been woefully inadequate. In 2017, Benue state enacted a law banning open grazing in an attempt to reduce conflicts between herders and farmers. However, the lack of proper implementation and enforcement has left rural communities vulnerable to continued attacks. This failure of governance has contributed to the staggering death toll, with at least 2,347 casualties recorded between 2020 and 2024 across 359 incidents. The true numbers are likely much higher, as many attacks in remote areas go unreported or underreported in official statistics.
Environmental Factors and Resource Competition
While the religious dimension cannot be ignored, environmental factors are accelerating the conflict. Climate change has severely affected traditional grazing lands in northern Nigeria, pushing herders further south into farming territories. Desertification and drought have diminished available pasture, while Nigeria’s booming population—now exceeding 200 million—has increased pressure on limited land resources. These environmental challenges, combined with allegations of land-grabbing and what some local leaders describe as ethnic cleansing, have created a perfect storm of violence that shows no signs of abating without meaningful intervention.
Economic Impact on Nigeria’s Food Security
The ongoing violence has severely disrupted agricultural activities in Benue state, threatening Nigeria’s food security at a critical time. As inflation soars and food prices rise across the country, the inability of farmers to safely tend their fields compounds economic hardships for all Nigerians. Many farming communities have been displaced, agricultural land abandoned, and food production dramatically reduced. The conflict extends beyond humanitarian concerns to represent a strategic threat to Nigeria’s economy and stability. Without decisive action to protect farming communities and implement sustainable solutions for herder-farmer relations, Nigeria faces a worsening food crisis alongside the humanitarian disaster.
