Benue Killings: No Such Thing as Farmers-Herders Clash – CDS Musa Reveals Real Causes of Attacks

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has dismissed the notion of a “farmers-herders clash” in Benue State, stating that the issue is fundamentally about animal intrusion on farmlands, not a mutual confrontation. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the defence chief outlined the main drivers of the recurring violence in Benue and other affected regions, identifying land disputes, animal movement, and rustling as core issues.

General Musa emphasized that what is often described as a clash is, in fact, the result of roaming animals invading static farms. “Clash means two things are moving,” he said. “But if a farm is just there and an animal comes in, it is not a clash—it’s somebody entering somebody’s asset.” He argued that restricting the movement of livestock could significantly reduce tensions.

He further highlighted the issue of land ownership between indigenes and non-indigenes, describing it as politically sensitive and beyond the scope of military intervention. “It’s a political problem,” he stated, urging for deliberate political engagement to resolve the conflicts.

Animal rustling was also cited as a related concern, which Musa noted would decrease if livestock were no longer moved across communities. He reiterated that while the military can work to prevent attacks, the underlying issues must be addressed through political will and structured reforms.

His remarks come amid growing national outrage following the recent attack in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly burned alive in one of the deadliest assaults attributed to suspected herdsmen. The massacre has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed calls for urgent action.