The Fulani Herdsmen Crisis in Nigeria: A Genocidal Campaign on the Plateau and Benue States -By Jeff Okoroafor

For over a decade, Nigeria’s Middle Belt region—particularly Plateau and Benue States—has been the epicenter of a brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen. These attacks, characterized by mass killings, rape, arson, and displacement, have taken on genocidal dimensions, targeting predominantly Christian farming communities in a systematic effort to seize land and alter demographics. The Nigerian government’s tepid response, coupled with allegations of complicity and ethnic favoritism, has exacerbated the crisis, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced. This article examines the roots of the conflict, the genocidal patterns of the attacks, and the urgent need for justice and accountability.

The conflict between Fulani herdsmen and agrarian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt is not new but has escalated dramatically in recent years. Historically, Fulani pastoralists migrated seasonally in search of grazing land for their cattle, often clashing with farmers over crop destruction and water resources. However, the introduction of sophisticated weaponry, the rise of radicalized Fulani militias, and the government’s failure to enforce grazing regulations have transformed these clashes into full-scale massacres.

Plateau and Benue States, home to diverse ethnic groups such as the Berom, Tiv, Idoma, and others, have borne the brunt of these attacks. Both states have enacted anti-open grazing laws to curb farmer-herder conflicts, but rather than comply, armed Fulani militias have responded with unprecedented violence, suggesting a deeper agenda beyond mere resource competition.

The attacks follow a disturbing pattern consistent with genocide as defined by the United Nations:

1. Mass Killings and Ethnic Targeting – Entire villages are raided at night, with men, women, and children slaughtered indiscriminately. In 2018, over 200 people were killed in attacks across 11 villages in Plateau State. In 2023, another Christmas Eve massacre in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi left over 200 dead. Benue has suffered similar atrocities, with thousands killed since 2015.

2. Displacement and Land Grabbing – Survivors are forced to flee, leaving their ancestral lands open for occupation by Fulani herders. The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has repeatedly classified Fulani militias as one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world due to their land-grabbing tactics.

3. Cultural and Religious Dimensions – Most victims are Christian farmers, while the attackers are predominantly Muslim Fulani herders. This religious and ethnic divide has fueled suspicions of an Islamization agenda, particularly given the government’s reluctance to label these attacks as terrorism.

4. Government Complicity and Inaction – Despite overwhelming evidence, the Nigerian government, under both past and present administrations, has failed to prosecute perpetrators adequately. Security forces often arrive after massacres, and arrests are rare. Worse still, some officials have framed the crisis as a “communal clash,” downplaying its genocidal nature.

While the world rightly condemns terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS, the atrocities committed by Fulani herdsmen have received minimal global attention. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Crisis Group have documented these abuses, yet the Nigerian government dismisses such reports as “exaggerations.” The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly called for sanctions against perpetrators, but geopolitical interests often overshadow justice for victims.

To end this cycle of violence, Nigeria must take decisive action:

1. Designate Fulani Militias as Terrorist Organizations – Just as Boko Haram and bandits are proscribed, Fulani militias carrying out mass killings must be officially recognized as terrorists.

2. Disarm and Prosecute Perpetrators – A special tribunal should be established to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these massacres.

3. Strengthen Community Defense Mechanisms – Local vigilante groups must be legally supported and equipped to protect vulnerable communities where state security fails.

4. Enforce Anti-Open Grazing Laws – Benue and Plateau’s grazing laws must be upheld, and ranching promoted as a long-term solution to herder-farmer conflicts.

5. International Pressure and Sanctions – The UN, AU, and Western governments must impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials complicit in these atrocities and demand accountability.

The genocidal violence in Plateau and Benue is not just a local conflict but a national emergency that threatens Nigeria’s unity. If the government continues to treat these massacres with indifference, it risks legitimizing ethnic cleansing and further destabilizing the country. The time for empty condolences is over—what is needed is justice, security, and an unwavering commitment to protecting all Nigerian lives, regardless of ethnicity or religion. The world is watching; history will judge.

Jeff Okoroafor is a social accountability advocate and a political commentator focused on governance, accountability, and social justice in West Africa.