Violence has surged once again in central Nigeria Benue State where attacks by suspected cattle herders have left at least 56 people dead. The updated death toll was confirmed by Governor Hyacinth Alia during a visit to the affected villages of Logo and Ukum.
Earlier estimates had placed the number of casualties at 17, but the situation appears to be far worse than initially reported. These attacks are part of a long standing conflict between farmers and herders in the region one that has taken a heavy toll on both lives and livelihoods.
Just days before another deadly assault by suspected herders claimed 11 lives in Otukpo while more than 50 people were killed in a separate attack in neighboring Plateau State. The violence is hitting Nigeria’s agricultural heartland threatening food supplies and deepening instability in the region.
Since 2019, clashes like these have claimed over 500 lives and forced about 2.2 million people to flee their homes, according to data from SBM Intelligence. With crops left untended and families uprooted, the conflict is not only a humanitarian crisis—it’s also a growing threat to food security in Africa’s most populous country.
