During the Christmas season, Nigerian officials from several states sent goodwill greetings to Christians, focussing on the concepts of compassion, peace, and unity. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State invited Christian organisations, expressed sympathy for an accident that occurred during a Christmas procession, and encouraged people to consider the teachings of Christ. At a children’s celebration that Governor Siminalayi Fubara attended, Rivers State First Lady Valerie Fubara emphasised the significance of the Christmas message of love and redemption. In their speeches, Kano Governor Abba Yusuf and Kogi Governor Usman Ododo urged unity, peace, and tolerance; Yusuf also gave money to Christian organisations. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele advocated concern for the poor and a thoughtful consideration of Christ’s sacrifice.
To commemorate Christmas and the start of the New Year, the federal government announced public holidays on December 25 and 26, 2024, and January 1, 2025. Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasised the value of Peace and Security for the advancement of the country and urged Nigerians to follow Christ’s example of service and humility. Tragic events, however, tainted the joyous occasion. As people flocked to get food and clothing amid economic challenges, a stampede at a charity event hosted by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja claimed ten lives, including children.
Suspected herdsmen, Jukun militia killed 11 persons in Kwande LGA.
Similarly, a philanthropist’s food distribution in Okija, Anambra State, resulted in a stampede that killed 22 people. The serious expense of living crisis and the necessity of better crowd management procedures during such events are brought to light by these instances. Sadly, on Christmas Day, suspected Herdsmen and Jukum militia attacked and killed 11 persons in Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State. These attackers targeted locals on their way home from church, shooting intermittently and murdering victims in several different places. Formerly tranquil communities were destroyed, and several individuals went missing.
Security personnel and local officials are looking into the incident. Herder-farmer conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, especially in Benue State, has complicated socioeconomic aspects and long-standing historical roots. Due to Fulani herders’ custom of migrating southward in pursuit of grazing grounds, conflicts with native farming communities over land and water supplies frequently result. Factors like population increase, agricultural expansion, and Desertification in the north have made this competition more intense by reducing the amount of grazing land accessible.
Leaders emphasised a long-standing animosity between residents and gov’t.
Conflicts for political domination and land ownership have repeatedly arisen between the Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups in Benue State. Tiv farmers, Jukun villages, and Fulani herdsmen are engaged in a complicated triadic conflict as a result of these tensions being made worse by the inflow of Fulani herders. The area has seen recurring cycles of violence due to historical grievances, rivalry for resources, and mistrust between people. As the violence escalated, the Nigerian government responded in 2018 by launching Operation Whirl Stroke, a Military Operation designed to stop militia and armed herdsmen activity in Benue and surrounding states.
Notwithstanding these initiatives, attacks have continued; according to sources, confrontations involving herdsmen have claimed the lives of almost 385 people in Benue State alone since 2017. People in the area are frustrated by the ongoing insecurity. For example, in November 2024, the Logo Local Government Area’s Anyiin and Ayilamo settlements were assaulted by suspected herders, which led to a large number of fatalities. Community leaders emphasised a long-standing animosity between residents and the government by denouncing the attacks and suggesting potential security force cooperation. Those who have survived these attacks describe terrifying experiences.
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According to one resident of the Azege village in Logo LGA, several people were killed and farmlands were destroyed in an early-morning attack by highly armed attackers. These personal testimonies highlight the human cost of the ongoing violence and the widespread dread in these communities. These wars’ continued existence raises the possibility that military actions by themselves may not be enough. For Benue State and the larger Middle Belt to experience enduring peace, it is imperative that the underlying causes—such as land competition, environmental degradation, and ethnic tensions—be addressed through comprehensive policies and community participation.