Herder-farmer conflict: Tinubu visits Benue today, sues for dialogue, reconciliation, peace

By Abbas Nazil

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, visit Benue State in a significant move aimed at addressing the prolonged herder-farmer conflict that has ravaged several communities in the state.

The visit, initially planned for Kaduna State to commission state government projects, was rescheduled to prioritize the worsening crisis in Benue.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s shift in itinerary underscores his renewed commitment to national peace and unity, especially in areas marred by persistent violence.

With incessant violent attacks in the last week, Benue has become a killing field, losing about 200 citizens to mayhem perpetrated by yet-to-be-confirmed armed men.

In the most recent incidents, coordinated attacks on Guma, Logo, Ukum, and parts of Katsina-Ala local government areas have left dozens dead, entire communities sacked, and farmlands deserted.

Residents report that the attackers often strike at night, burning homes, looting food supplies, and shooting indiscriminately.

Some local leaders and civil society groups have raised concerns that the recurring attacks may not be unconnected to political sabotage and ethnic cleansing agendas.

The insinuations point to the strategic timing of the violence, particularly during planting seasons, and the seeming inability—or unwillingness—of security agencies to respond swiftly.

Though no group has officially claimed responsibility, fingers have repeatedly pointed to suspected armed herders, with critics calling for a full investigation into the role of external militias and their local collaborators.

The visit is part of a broader strategy to foster reconciliation among warring groups and to find sustainable solutions to the insecurity that has claimed countless lives, displaced thousands, and left many communities in ruins.

President Tinubu is expected to engage directly with local stakeholders including traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, community heads, and youth representatives in a town hall meeting that will serve as a platform for inclusive dialogue.

Onanuga, in a statement released Monday, noted that the President’s decision was borne out of a desire to understand the root causes of the conflict firsthand and assess the extent of the destruction inflicted on the affected communities.

The President’s team has already dispatched top government officials to Benue ahead of his arrival, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, heads of intelligence agencies, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees.

Their presence is meant to prepare the ground for meaningful discussions and ensure adequate security during the visit.

Tinubu, who has repeatedly condemned the violence in Benue and other crisis-prone regions, is expected to use the opportunity to reiterate his administration’s stance on peaceful coexistence and national unity.

He is also likely to extend support to victims of the conflict and call on all parties to put aside grievances in the interest of development and peace.

He has previously expressed sympathy for the families of those who lost loved ones and property as a result of the clashes, urging leaders across ethnic and religious lines to promote tolerance and cooperation.

As the nation watches closely, today’s visit could mark a turning point in the Federal Government’s approach to the herder-farmer conflict, which remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing internal security challenges.