On the night of June 13, more than 100 people were slaughtered in Yelewata, a farming village in Benue state, central Nigeria. Attackers gunned down civilians, torched homes, and left survivors traumatized. The massacre, believed to have been carried out by armed groups, is part of a growing wave of deadly raids sweeping across Nigeria’s middle belt.

Amnesty International estimates that scores were butchered and burned alive. “Growing up, herders only came with staffs,” said James Ayatse, a Benue leader. “What we have now are criminal herders carrying assault rifles.”

Conflict Rooted in Land and Climate

Long-standing tensions between nomadic Muslim herders and largely Christian farmers have been intensified by climate change and rapid population growth. Desertification in the north and a shrinking supply of grazing land have forced pastoralists further south, igniting frequent clashes over farmland.

Government-designated grazing zones have failed to resolve the dispute. Farmers fear permanent encroachment, while herders resist abandoning their nomadic traditions. Attempts to ban open grazing have only deepened hostilities.

State Response Deemed Inadequate

Despite acknowledging the growing sophistication of the attackers—some of whom reportedly speak unfamiliar dialects of Fulani—state forces have struggled to respond effectively. Security personnel, stretched thin by counter-terrorism operations in the north, often arrive too late, if at all.

Some officials suspect collusion between local troops and criminal groups. “Raids happen because attackers know the community leaders are defenceless,” said Isaac Olawale Albert, a professor of peace and conflict studies at the University of Ibadan.

Tinubu’s Missed Visit Symbolizes National Neglect

President Bola Tinubu drew criticism for canceling a planned visit to Yelewata, citing flooded roads. Many view this as a symbol of Abuja’s neglect for remote, violence-stricken areas. The former Benue governor criticized the central government for ignoring hard-to-reach communities.

Though authorities have arrested suspects following the massacre, observers warn that without a comprehensive security overhaul, more bloodshed is inevitable.

Long-Brewing Crisis in Nigeria's Heartland

The violence in Benue is emblematic of broader instability across Nigeria’s middle belt. An estimated 1.5 million people have been displaced by the herder-farmer conflict. Jihadist incursions and cross-border arms smuggling from the Sahel further complicate the crisis. As the violence continues with little deterrence, civilians are increasingly taking justice into their own hands, perpetuating a dangerous cycle of reprisal.