The people of Benue State, Nigeria, are going through something painful—again. Just days ago, fresh violence erupted in Guma Local Government Area, leaving entire families wiped out. The community of Yelewata was hit hard. It was an attack that came at night, catching many in their sleep. Over 100 people lost their lives, some reports say even more. Houses were set on fire. Women, children, and the elderly were among the victims.

People who survived this horror describe it as something they’ll never forget. The attackers came heavily armed, surrounding homes and opening fire before setting buildings on fire. Some of the victims had run to the market thinking it would be safer, but they were also found and killed. This kind of tragedy has become far too common in Benue. And each time it happens, the pain spreads—not just in the community, but across the entire state.

Why Benue Keeps Facing These Attacks

At the heart of this problem is a long-standing struggle between farmers and herders. Benue is known for farming. It grows much of Nigeria’s food—things like rice, yams, and vegetables. But over time, as herders (especially Fulani herdsmen) move further into the state looking for grass and water for their cattle, tensions rise. The farmers say the herdsmen destroy their crops. The herders say they’re just trying to survive.

This fight over land and resources has turned deadly. There are laws in place—like the 2017 anti-open grazing law in Benue—but enforcing them has been difficult. And when cattle are seized or herders are arrested, it often leads to revenge attacks like the one in Yelewata.

These killings have been happening for years now.

In 2022, there were reports of attacks that killed more than 20 people in Guma. In 2023 and 2024, entire schools were shut down or burnt down because of rising violence. Thousands of people lost their homes, farms, and family members. Some had to live in temporary camps with little to no help.

Earlier this year in March 2025, more people were killed in different villages in Benue. The violence isn’t slowing down—it’s spreading. And now, nearly every part of the state lives in fear of the next attack. Right now, Benue has a huge number of displaced people. Some say over 500,000 are living in camps or makeshift shelters. These are people who can’t go back home because their homes have been destroyed or they’re too scared to return.

Food is another major problem. With farms abandoned, food is becoming scarce. Children are out of school, many have lost parents, and families are struggling to survive. Every new attack makes things worse. There’s also the cost—people have lost money, land, businesses, and any sense of safety. And when farmers can’t farm, the rest of the country also feels the pain. Food prices go up, and hunger spreads.

What the Government Is Saying

After the latest killings, the Nigerian Senate asked for immediate action. They want security forces to be sent to rural areas. They also asked for better tracking of illegal weapons and more support for the idea of creating ranches for herders, so their cattle don’t have to roam into people’s farms.

President Bola Tinubu also spoke up. He condemned the killings and promised to bring those responsible to justice. But for people on the ground, promises are not enough. They need results. They want real safety. They want to sleep at night without fearing gunshots.

What Can Be Done?

If Benue is going to find peace, a few things have to change:

• The anti-open grazing law must be enforced properly, not just on paper.
• The government needs to invest in proper ranches so herders don’t keep moving around with their cattle.
• Communities need help building back—homes, farms, and schools.
• There should be serious efforts to talk to both sides and find common ground.
• Armed groups must be stopped, and those responsible for killings must be punished.

Why This Matters for Everyone

This isn’t just about Benue. When a state that grows a large part of Nigeria’s food is in crisis, the whole country suffers. If the violence continues, there will be less food, more hunger, more people displaced, and more anger. It could even lead to more division along ethnic and religious lines.