The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has highlighted key factors contributing to the persistent violent attacks in Benue State, calling for political solutions to address the underlying issues.
Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi on June 17, General Musa outlined three major causes fueling the unrest:
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Land Disputes:
He emphasized that the ongoing tensions between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples are largely political in nature and require a political resolution. -
Uncontrolled Movement of Livestock:
The Defence Chief rejected the widespread label of “farmer-herder clashes,” clarifying that such conflicts arise not from mutual aggression but from animals encroaching on farmlands.“If the animals don’t move, we do not have issues,” he said, stressing that the destruction of farmland by roaming livestock is at the heart of the disputes.
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Cattle Rustling:
General Musa noted that cattle theft—often resulting from the free movement of animals—further escalates violence in the region.
He stressed that these problems require political interventions, not military force, to resolve.
“Most of it is a political solution that is needed because it is not what the military can solve. What the military can solve is to stop people from attacking each other,” he stated.
The Defence Chief’s comments come amid renewed concern over the frequent violence in parts of Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s food basket but repeatedly hit by conflicts between farmers and herders.
