A traditional ruler in Benue State has described the recent wave of killings as a “calculated genocidal invasion” by armed herders and bandits, rejecting claims that the violence stems from clashes between farmers and herders.
James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and paramount ruler of the Tiv people, made the statement on Wednesday during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state following deadly attacks in Guma Local Government Area.
At least 200 people have been reported killed after suspected herders launched attacks on the Yelewata and Daudu communities on 14 June. The violence has sparked widespread outrage across the country.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Makurdi, the Tor Tiv said, “What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign… This is not a case of communal clashes or farmer-herder conflict.”
He added that mislabelling the situation has led to inadequate responses. “Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment,” he said. “This is not about learning to live with neighbours; it is dealing with a war.”
President Tinubu, who visited victims at a local hospital, promised swift action. He has ordered security forces to hunt down the perpetrators and ensure they face justice.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has for years been at the centre of violent confrontations, often attributed to competition over land and grazing routes. But local leaders now warn that the violence is becoming more organised and deadly.