Thousands of angry residents have taken to the streets in Benue State to protest the increasing attacks by suspected herdsmen, including killings and kidnappings, which have left communities in fear and uncertainty. The protests, which erupted in various parts of the state, saw demonstrators chanting “We no go gree!” as they blocked major roads, demanding urgent intervention from the government and security agencies to address the growing insecurity.
The protests come in the wake of a series of violent attacks in the Olena community in Asa, Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, where residents have been fleeing their homes after days of sustained assaults by suspected herdsmen. The attacks, which have led to several deaths and abductions, have prompted many locals to call for immediate action to curb the violence, which has become a “constant recurrence.”
According to reports, the situation in Benue has been deteriorating for several days. Olena community, once a peaceful settlement, has been under siege for the past four days. Residents, who have endured multiple attacks, said they were left to fend for themselves, with little or no response from security forces.
A resident who escaped the attacks with his family spoke to local media, describing the terror that had gripped the community. “I am currently in Upu. I escaped with my family this night. At the moment, we have all vacated our community. Olena has been under attack for days now,” he said. The villager explained that the attackers operated with impunity, and despite repeated cries for help, no security agents came to their rescue.
“They have killed and kidnapped several people. We have been crying for help, but no security agents have come to our rescue. I barely managed to escape with my life and my family tonight. Olena is under serious attack as we speak,” the distraught villager added.
The violence in Olena is part of a larger, ongoing crisis in Benue State and other parts of central Nigeria, where farmers and herders have been engaged in increasingly violent clashes. These clashes, often involving land disputes and the encroachment of herders into farmland, have led to widespread insecurity, with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
The growing violence in Benue and other states in central Nigeria has drawn widespread concern from both local residents and national security experts. A report from SaharaReporters highlighted how criminal herders have been expanding their operations, shifting their focus to the southern part of Nigeria, thus exacerbating the pastoral crisis. According to the intelligence report, the geographical pattern of pastoral violence is troubling, with Benue State emerging as one of the most severely affected regions in Nigeria.
The report, titled “A National Emergency: The Escalating Crisis of Pastoral Violence in Nigeria,” noted that between 2019 and 2025, the North-Central zone, where Benue State is located, has been the epicenter of the crisis. Over 200 documented attacks have been recorded in Benue alone, solidifying its reputation as the heart of the violence. Neighbouring Plateau State has also been severely impacted, with attacks like the May 2023 massacre in Mangu and the Christmas Eve atrocity in Bokkos, which left scores dead, further highlighting the expanding scale of the violence.
In a particularly disturbing revelation, one of the protesters in Benue, Daniel Oche, claimed that the power supply is always cut off in the community before each attack. This raises serious concerns about the tactics used by the attackers, who seem to have a method of operation that includes disabling essential services to further terrorize their victims.
The protests have brought attention to the rising anger and frustration among the residents of Benue, who feel abandoned by the authorities. Despite the severe insecurity, the protesters said they had not received adequate protection from the government or the security agencies. They called for immediate action to stop the killings and kidnappings, as well as for the government to investigate the attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Residents have been left feeling vulnerable and unprotected, with many fleeing their homes for safer areas. The protests, which have blocked major roads and drawn attention to the violence in the state, underscore the desperation of the people who are pleading for an end to the insecurity that has taken over their lives.
The protestors also condemned the government’s failure to adequately address the crisis. In a statement, they expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of action by the security forces and called on the federal government to do more to protect innocent lives.
“We are tired of being killed and kidnapped. The government and security forces must take immediate action to stop these senseless killings. We demand justice for those who have been killed and for the safety of our communities,” one of the protesters declared.
The violence in Benue and other parts of central Nigeria is not an isolated issue. It is part of a much broader crisis that has been simmering for years, affecting various states in the Middle Belt and southern parts of Nigeria. The ongoing herdsmen-farmer clashes, often linked to land disputes, have been exacerbated by issues such as climate change, population growth, and the movement of herders from the north to the south in search of grazing land for their cattle.
The shift of criminal herders to southern Nigeria, as highlighted in the SBM Intelligence report, is creating new challenges for the country. The pastoral violence is no longer confined to the north-central region, but is now spreading across the nation, creating a national security emergency.
The situation in Benue is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by this growing violence, and it highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response from both the federal and state governments. Many Nigerians are now calling for stricter regulation of the movement of herders, better security measures, and an overhaul of the country’s approach to managing pastoral conflicts.
As the protests continue in Benue, there are calls for the government to act swiftly to restore peace and security to the affected areas. The residents have made it clear that they will no longer tolerate the frequent attacks and loss of lives at the hands of suspected herdsmen. They are demanding not just justice for the victims but also lasting solutions to end the violence.
The situation in Benue serves as a reminder of the urgent need for reform in Nigeria’s security apparatus and conflict management strategies. Without swift and decisive action, the cycle of violence and insecurity may continue to escalate, further destabilizing the region and threatening the peace and unity of the country.
