Across several communities in Benue State, North-central Nigeria, farmers are fleeing for their lives as their multi-million naira plantations are destroyed in the wake of a worsening farmers-herders crisis.
AfriCast’s Yunusa Umar spoke to these farmers, who alleged that the security agencies and authorities in the Guma local government area of the state have turned a blind eye to their plight.
It was a sunny September Monday morning in Torkula community, Benue State when Pius Azahaa, who had just returned from his farm, spoke to this reporter. The farmer, aged 74, sat under a Mango tree in his compound, where he also had a small-sized Groundnut and Maize farm. Ahazaa is one of several farmers in Benue State who has lost millions of naira to the farmers-herders crisis and now struggles to survive.
“Herdsmen destroyed my Rice and sesame farmland worth about N1.2 million. My farming land is 18 hectares but only Rice alone took four hectares and it has all been destroyed by the herders”, Azaaha recounted. Once known for planting Rice, Maize, Soybean, Sesame, Melon, and Yam in commercial quantities, the aged man now struggles to earn a living and service his debts.
He said, “I can not pay those who gave me a loan as Fulanis’ cows ate up my plantation. Whenever I remember those destroyed crops, I feel bad”.
The Farming Crisis In Benue State
The conflict between farmers and pastoralists in Nigeria has led to the loss of livelihood for farmers in affected communities. This conflict has intensified over the past decade, with Benue state becoming one of the hardest hit in the country. Amnesty International recorded that over 2,600 people died from the humanitarian crises in the state between January 2023 and February 2024. The same report notes that 18 out of the 23 Local Government Areas in the state are affected, stressing that this has fuelled displacement, kidnapping and rape.
One of the local government areas most affected is Guma, made up of several communities including Uleva, Kaseyo, Adai, Uhuwe, and Tse-Akenyi.
Authorities’ Refusal to Punish Culprit Fuels Unending Destruction, Farmers’ Allege
Azaaha, echoing the sentiments of many farmers whom we later spoke to, accused the government and security operatives of a lack of proactiveness and paying lip service to solving the crises.
“Fulani keeps creeping into our crops. I often feel bad but I have nothing to do about it. I reported to vigilante groups and nothing was done. I told civil defense and soldiers but the Fulani ran away,” he said.
A forty-eight-year-old farmer, Patrick Dam narrating his experience to this reporter, recalled how his brother was murdered in cold blood following the invasion of Fulani cattle herders in his community.
“The cattle herders have been disturbing us for long to the point that I lost one of my brothers”, he recounted, noting that he barely escaped the attempt to hack him to death. He further alleged that the refusal of Soldiers, Police, and Civil Defense’s refusal to intervene enabled the continued killing and destruction of crops including properties.
“Police are afraid to go there, especially soldiers. And soldiers are even closer to us. We selected some people to be reporting to them. Sometimes, they won’t come and herdsmen continue to destroy our crops.
“Police always tell us that we should negotiate with Fulani people. I once had a heated argument with them (Fulanis) and left that day
“It affects me. I’m still suffering with my family. We don’t have any way to feed ourselves. We have been managing”, he said. “When things happen, we report to the Police with a promise that they will come but they turn a blind eye to our plea,” Dam said.
Aondakaa Vincent started farming in Kaseyo community village to feed his seven children, after he became displaced following the farmers-herders crisis in his community. He told AfriCast, “I spent N350,000 for Rice and N50,000 for Maize but it was destroyed by the herdsmen. For me to farm this year, I collected a N200,000 loan, and my crops are now destroyed which means I do not have anything to pay back. If only the Government could provide a way for them not to destroy our crops.
“My children caught one of the herders on my farm and we reported them to the vigilante chairman. He didn’t do anything.”
Tyav Azahan, a 35-year-old farmer whose dream of earning a living through farming has been cut short as a result of the crises, says many farmers are now being forced to cultivate crops a few meters from their houses to mitigate circumstances when herders invade their farms.
“Our crop’s destruction and the non-responsiveness of authorities have caused more hunger in this community. I have not seen hunger like that of last year since I was born because we used to have everything intact.
“Although many farmers in the community have made it their duty to give security operatives gifts to boost their morale. Unfortunately, the situation only gets worse as the destruction of their crops persists, Azahan said.
He pointed to abandoned farmlands in the community, saying that no farmer would cultivate there because herdsmen would destroy their crops.
Agreement To Hold Culprits Responsible Yields No Result
Speaking on the crisis, the village chief of Uhuwe, Zaki Yangega Usongu said there had been a series of meetings after the crisis lingered and an agreement was reached that anyone caught destroying crops would pay for damages. Further interviews revealed that the agreement exists only on paper and farmers continue to suffer the destruction of crops and their farmlands.
“When we report to the security operatives like police and Civil Defence, they would claim that farmers have no evidence. I have not been able to report directly but the intermediaries have been forwarding the issues to them. Sometimes, they urge farmers to settle with the Fulanis,” explained Zaki Usongu
When contacted, Alhaji Ibrahim Galma, the Secretary-general of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) in Benue State confirmed that farmlands are being invaded but insisted that there is a penalty for culprits.
He said, “I don’t know the mission of your media because the crisis has certain dimensions on the way you see it. It might not be the way people you interviewed view it. You will get different opinions from me simply because we are not from the same background. And everybody looks at his own interests”.
He added that herders have also lost thousands of livestock to the crisis.
No Official Response From Authorities
Adum, the head of the farmer-herder desk officer under the Ministry of Agriculture in Benue State, including their Staff officer, Veronica, were unwilling to speak to this reporter, citing that they ought to get permission from their boss before speaking to our reporter.
Adum said, “There are certain things I’m not politically correct about that those who are closer to politicians or the government. there are certain things that they know and I won’t know”,
When this reporter requested contact from the permanent secretary and commissioner of the ministry, they declined, stating that the duo might not have much to say.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Catherine Anene confirmed to AfriCast that she is aware of the situation in Guma council but could not provide details of efforts by the command to salvage the crisis.
She further emphasised that she would send the contact of the Commissioner of Police in Benue State but subsequent messages and calls put to her as reminders were ignored.
This report was published with support from Civic Media Lab
