Clashes between herders and farmers in Nigeria result in at least 17 fatalities.

Recent escalations have marked a troubling increase in violence between nomadic herders and farming communities in central Nigeria, particularly affecting the Benue and Plateau states. Reports indicate that at least 17 individuals have lost their lives in coordinated attacks attributed to suspected nomadic cattle herders in Benue State.

Police spokesperson Anene Sewuese Catherine confirmed that a significant number of suspected militia infiltrated a region within Benue State overnight, leading to these tragic incidents. These clashes, which have intensified in recent years, represent a complex interplay of factors rather than solely ethnoreligious divisions, as is often portrayed in media narratives.

Security forces responded swiftly to the initial assault, which resulted in the untimely deaths of five farmers in the Ukum area of Benue while repelling the attackers. Following this incident, a second attack occurred in the Logo area, approximately 70 kilometers away from the first site, highlighting the coordinated nature of these assaults. In this locality, an additional 12 persons lost their lives before law enforcement could arrive.

These violence episodes are not isolated; only two days prior, an attack in the Otukpo area resulted in 11 fatalities, while just a week earlier, armed assailants assaulted villages in neighboring Plateau State, resulting in over 50 deaths. Over the last four years, clashes between herders and farmers have claimed more than 500 lives, displacing approximately 2.2 million individuals, according to research from SBM Intelligence.

While tensions are often framed along religious lines—pitched against the backdrop of the predominately Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers from the Berom and Irigwe ethnic groups—many analysts highlight that the root causes of the conflict are deeply tied to climate change and diminishing pastoral lands. These environmental factors have exacerbated competition for resources, igniting conflict regardless of the individuals’ faith backgrounds.

The ongoing clashes threaten to disrupt food supplies in north-central Nigeria, a vital region for agricultural production. Efforts will require a nuanced approach that addresses the underlying environmental issues to foster long-term peace between affected communities.

#WorldNews #AfricaNews