MAKURDI, Nigeria — Authorities in Nigeria’s central Benue state say armed groups displaced by recent military operations in the northwest may be moving south, worsening an already fragile security situation.
Benue has long been a theatre of violence linked to clashes between predominantly Fulani herders and farming communities. In recent years, attacks by armed herdsmen have killed dozens of civilians in incidents such as the Umogidi and Mgban massacres in April 2023, where funeralgoers and internally displaced people were among the victims, and the 2021 Odugbeho attack in Agatu local government area, which left more than 40 dead. Thousands more have been displaced across the state in ongoing herder–farmer conflict over land and grazing rights.
The chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, James Melvin Ejeh, said on Friday that militants fleeing air operations in Sokoto state had infiltrated communities in Agatu, an agrarian area long affected by rural banditry and conflict. Speaking in Makurdi, he said residents were facing what he described as a renewed wave of attacks, which he believes are linked to fighters pushed out by the strikes. He alleged killings, serious injuries, sexual violence, the destruction of homes and farmland, and the displacement of hundreds of people — allegations that could not be independently verified.
“These armed elements, fleeing from neighbouring areas, have reportedly infiltrated Agatu communities and unleashed unprecedented terror on innocent and defenseless residents,” he said.
Describing the situation as both a security and humanitarian crisis, Mr Ejeh announced the revocation of a longstanding grazing agreement that allowed herders access to Agatu land, saying the decision was intended to protect farming livelihoods and food security. He called on federal authorities to bolster military and police deployments, arguing that existing security presence was insufficient. While praising Benue’s governor, Hyacinth Alia, and security operations including Operation Whirl Stroke for ongoing efforts, he said more robust intervention was urgently required.
Concerns in Benue come amid heightened regional and international attention following a joint United States–Nigeria airstrike on 26 December targeting suspected Islamist militant camps in Sokoto state. Nigerian authorities said the operation struck locations in the Bauni forest area of Tangaza local government, allegedly linked to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and allied armed groups. The strikes were carried out using shared intelligence between Nigeria and the US Africa Command (Africom), which said the aim was to degrade militant capabilities in an area plagued by insurgency and criminal violence. Nigerian officials reported no confirmed civilian casualties, though debris from munitions was later found in nearby communities, including Jabo in Sokoto and Offa in Kwara state.
In comments reported by international media, US president Donald Trump said further action could follow if violence against civilians continued. He framed the intervention as a response to attacks on Christians, a characterisation Nigerian officials have disputed, noting that violence affects communities across religious lines.
Some local residents and independent observers have questioned whether militants were present at all of the locations struck, pointing to conflicting accounts on the ground.
Nigeria has battled violent extremist groups for more than a decade, with Boko Haram and ISWAP entrenched in the northeast and splinter factions operating across the north and central regions. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, with attacks affecting both Muslim and Christian communities.
While Abuja says international cooperation is essential to counter entrenched threats, analysts warn that airpower alone cannot address the political, economic and social drivers of militancy. With the influx of displaced fighters and longstanding herder–farmer violence in places like Benue, many residents fear the situation could escalate further if swift and precise action is not taken.
As residents of Agatu brace for further attacks and Washington weighs additional military measures, the outlook for stability in the region remains uncertain.
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