After Yelwata, Can Nigeria End the Killings in Its Food Basket?

Nigeria's President, His Excellency Bola Tinubu

Seemingly Endless Harvest of Conflict: Understanding the Crisis in Benue State, Nigeria

“More than 100 people were reportedly killed in Yelwata, Benue State, allegedly by suspected Fulani militias, sparking widespread protests. In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to act decisively to halt the violence and arrest all perpetrators. He also urged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead reconciliation efforts among farmers, herders, and communities involved in the ongoing resource-based conflict. President Tinubu condemned the killings as “inhuman and anti-progress” and cautioned political and community leaders against making inflammatory statements. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims, especially those sheltered by a local Catholic mission, calling for peace and justice in Nigeria”

The recent massacre of over 100 people in Yelwata, Benue State, once again casts a grim spotlight on Nigeria’s deep-seated communal tensions. The attackers widely believed to be Fulani militias, according to media reports struck under the cover of night, leaving destruction in their wake and reigniting a conflict that has persisted for decades. In response, as already established in this report, President Bola Tinubu has condemned the bloodshed as “inhuman and anti-progress,” ordering security agencies to act decisively while urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to lead a reconciliation process. But many are asking “how did Benue get to this state of wanton devastation of human life and property?

Brief  Overview

The communal clashes in Benue State according to media reports have deep historical roots, shaped by a complex mix of ethnic, religious, and environmental factors that have evolved over centuries.

1. Colonial and Pre-Colonial Tensions

The region now known as Benue was historically inhabited by ethnic groups like the Tiv, Idoma, and others who resisted the expansion of the Fulani-led Sokoto Caliphate during the 19th-century jihadist campaigns. These early confrontations laid the groundwork for enduring mistrust between the predominantly Christian farming communities and the Muslim Fulani herders.

2. Post-Independence Political Struggles

After Nigeria’s independence in 1960, political tensions intensified. The Northern People's Congress (NPC), influenced by the legacy of Uthman Dan Fodio, sought to consolidate power in the north, often marginalizing minority groups in the Middle Belt, including those in Benue. This led to the rise of the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), which championed the rights of these minorities and deepened regional divisions.

3. Environmental and Economic Pressures

In recent decades, climate change and desertification in northern Nigeria have pushed Fulani herders southward in search of grazing land. This migration has brought them into direct conflict with settled farming communities in Benue, where land and water resources are already scarce. Disputes over crop destruction, cattle rustling, and blocked migration routes have frequently turned violent.

4. Ethno-Religious Dimensions

The conflict has taken on ethnic and religious overtones, with many Christian communities in Benue viewing the predominantly Muslim Fulani herders as aggressors. Some narratives even frame the violence as part of a broader agenda of territorial or religious domination, further inflaming tensions.

5. Cycles of Retaliation and Weak Mediation

A cultural emphasis on revenge and honor among some Fulani groups, combined with the absence of effective conflict resolution mechanisms, has led to a cycle of attacks and reprisals. Government responses, according to media reports have often been seen as inadequate or biased, eroding trust and allowing the violence to persist.

Back to the Present

Cycles of Violence: A Bleeding Heartland

From local disputes over crop destruction to mass killings like Yelwata, the violence follows a grim pattern: attack, retaliation, impunity. Thousands have died over the years, and entire communities have been been razed or displaced. The humanitarian toll, according to media reports is a staggering — over 2.2 million internally displaced persons now crowd camps across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

President Tinubu’s Response: Enough Is Enough

Following the Yelwata massacre, we already informed that President Tinubu directed military and police chiefs to arrest all perpetrators “on all sides” and warned against inflammatory rhetoric from community leaders. He charged Governor Alia to spearhead dialogue and reconciliation, stating, “Our people must live in peace...when leaders across divides work together.”

Many believe that while strong in tone, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen. Critics argue that decisive action has come too late, and that repeated cycles of condemnation have done little to stem the bloodshed.

A Path toward Peace: From Dialogue to Healing

Lasting peace in Benue cannot rest on military intervention alone. It requires community dialogue, and structured conversations where farmers, herders, religious leaders, youth, and elders come together to voice grievances and envision solutions. Promoting peace in Benue State requires a multi-layered approach that addresses both immediate security concerns and the deeper, systemic causes of the conflict. True reconciliation means more than coexistence, it demands mutual accountability, truth-telling, and forgiveness.

1. Decisive Security Action

Already evident in Mr. President’s move, directing security agencies to arrest perpetrators and restore order. Sustained and impartial enforcement is essential to break the cycle of violence and prevent reprisal attacks.

2. Community Dialogue and Reconciliation

Also, Governor Hyacinth Alia has been tasked with leading reconciliation meetings among farmers, herders, and local communities. These dialogues should be inclusive, culturally sensitive, and facilitated by neutral mediators to rebuild trust.

3. Early Warning and Intelligence Sharing

Deploying local peace committees and community-based surveillance can help detect tensions early. This allows for preemptive intervention before violence erupts.

4. Land Use and Resource Management

Since the conflict is largely resource-based, the government should implement clear land tenure systems, grazing reserves, and water-sharing agreements. This reduces competition and clarifies rights.

5. Youth Engagement and Economic Empowerment

Many attacks involve disenfranchised youth. Providing vocational training, education, and employment opportunities can reduce their vulnerability to recruitment by violent groups.

6. Regulating Hate Speech and Inflammatory Rhetoric

Political and community leaders must avoid statements that inflame tensions. President Tinubu has warned against “unguarded utterances” that could worsen the crisis.

7. Faith-Based and Civil Society Involvement

Groups like the Catholic Church, which has sheltered victims, and international peace mediators already working in the region, can play a powerful role in healing and advocacy

Application of Successful Reconciliation Models From Around the World

• South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission showed how storytelling could help a nation heal.
• Rwanda’s Gacaca courts emphasized local justice and reintegration after genocide.
• Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement transformed sectarian enemies into political partners.

Benue can draw from these experiences — but it must tailor them to local realities, traditions, and traumas.

The Cost of Inaction: Nigeria’s Fragile Future

If left unresolved, the Benue conflict threatens to metastasize. Key implications include:

• Worsening humanitarian crises, with more displaced families and deepened poverty.
• Collapse of agriculture, disrupting Nigeria’s food security.
• Ethno-religious radicalization, especially among youth who grow up amidst loss and hatred.
• Erosion of government legitimacy, feeding cynicism and rebellion.
• Risk of spillover into neighboring states with similar grievances.

This isn’t just a Benue issue, it’s a national emergency, one that demands political courage, empathy, and commitment.

A Chance to Heal

The road to peace is long and full of thorns. But with inclusive leadership, genuine reconciliation, and sustained international support, Benue can rise from the ashes of violence. As Pope Leo XIV prayed during his Angelus: “Let justice and peace embrace in the heart of Nigeria.” It’s time to turn prayers into policy, and speeches into sustained action.