The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Benue State has revealed that at least 50 communities across 25 council wards have been overrun by marauding herders. The violent attacks, which have been ongoing for several years, have displaced thousands of residents in five local government areas of the state.
According to SEMA, the worst-hit area is Gwer West Local Government Area (LGA), where all 15 council wards have been affected by the conflict at one time or another. These wards include Sengev, Gbaange/Tongov, Saav, Mbapupuu/Tswarev, and several others. The data, compiled in a report titled “Displaced Communities In Benue State Where Fulanis Have Settled With Their Cows,” was released just before renewed attacks were reported in Ukum, Logo, Otukpo, and Gwer East LGAs.
In Guma LGA, which has also been significantly impacted, six council wards—Mbadwem, Nyiev, Mbaba, Uvir, and Mbayer/Yandev—have seen large-scale displacements. SEMA noted that Mbalom council ward in Gwer East LGA, which has been a frequent target of these attacks, has also experienced displacement.
In addition to these areas, parts of Makurdi, the state capital, have been affected. Two communities in Mbalagh and one in Bar council wards have also fallen victim to the violence. Furthermore, Moon and Anwase council wards in Kwande LGA have seen their communities ravaged by the ongoing attacks.
The consequences of these violent attacks have been dire, with thousands of people displaced and their homes destroyed. According to Terna Ager, SEMA’s Information Officer, these attacks have led to the loss of farmlands, homes, schools, and healthcare facilities, leaving communities in a state of despair.
Retired Comptroller of Prisons and leader of the socio-cultural groups Mdzou U Tiv, Ochi’Kidoma, and Omi’Ngede, Iorbee Ihagh, whose home area in Kwande LGA has been heavily affected, shared his concerns over the destruction of public institutions in the region. Ihagh, who also serves as the president general of Mdzou U Tiv Worldwide, stated that entire communities in Moon council ward had been abandoned as a result of the incessant attacks. Markets, health care centers, and schools have all been destroyed, leaving the residents without basic amenities and services.
“The communities have been deserted for years,” Ihagh lamented. “We are appealing to the federal government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the state.”
In response to the displacement, many of the affected residents have sought refuge in the 13 official internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across Benue State. However, despite years of being in these camps, many IDPs continue to live in deplorable conditions with little hope of returning to their ancestral homes. Some individuals have resorted to living with relatives, while others are stuck in the camps, unable to rebuild their lives.
Residents of these camps have expressed frustration over the lack of government support and the absence of a clear plan to address the issue. Many of the displaced persons have been in these camps for as long as eight years, struggling to survive with limited resources and no end in sight.
The SEMA report highlights the grim situation in Benue, where the recurring violence has left thousands without homes or livelihoods. As the attacks continue, the displaced communities remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, and medical care.
The situation in Benue has become one of the most pressing security concerns in Nigeria, with violence perpetrated by herders affecting not only the state’s economy but also its social fabric. As the conflict continues, residents are left to rely on the government to provide security and help restore peace to their communities.
