By Ekani Olikita
As the dry season approaches in Nigeria, concerns are rising in Benue State. Many fear a resurgence of deadly attacks by armed Fulani ethnic militia targeting rural communities.
Since 2013, Benue State in Central Nigeria has faced repeated outbreaks of deadly violence between November and April each year. These attacks are often linked to the seasonal migration of armed groups, identified as Fulani militia, who move from neighboring northern Nigerian states and other West and Central African countries such as Chad, Cameroon, Senegal, Niger, and Benin. Local communities, most of whom are Christian, have been the primary targets during these periods of unrest.
River Benue: The Pathway to Christian Genocides
During the dry season, the River Benue’s water level drops, creating new grazing routes and making it easier for armed groups from neighboring Nasarawa State to move into Benue. This seasonal change often signals the start of renewed violence, particularly in agrarian and riverine communities throughout the state.
In contrast, the rainy months between May and October usually bring relative calm, as flooded riverbanks and swampy farmlands restrict and limit access routes used by the attackers.
Communities in Guma, Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Agatu, Apa Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Kwande are among the worst hit in past attacks, with scores killed and thousands displaced during peak months of Fulani Terrorists invasion.
According to the Organization for Research and Freedom in Africa (ORFA), the Fulani ethnic militia have been responsible for 55,000 deaths in the last four years.
Benue, an agrarian and a predominantly Christian State (99 percent Christian 98 percent Catholic) with a population of 4.3 million, is famous for its massive harvests of rice, maize, yam, cassava, beans, Soya mills, and fruits, is in the Central Nigeria, also known as the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.
The Christian State of Benue and other Middle Belt states have come under frequent attacks, kidnappings and killings since 2013 by Fulani ethnic militia, whose leadership has never been identified by federal officials or Nigerian media.
Security Experts Call on Nigerian Government to Prepare Ahead
Security analysts and local observers are urging security agencies to take swift, proactive action ahead of the dry season. They are calling on the leadership of the Joint Military Taskforce—responsible for Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Taraba States under the codename Operation Whirl Stroke—as well as the Nigerian Police and other related agencies, to increase their preparedness and deploy preventive measures to protect vulnerable communities.
“This is the time to prepare, not to react,” said John Anthony Ikwulono, Former Deputy Chairman of Agatu County and a Security Expert in an interview with TruthNigeria. “Every year, Benue loses hundreds of lives between December and March. The cycle is predictable, yet we respond as if it were a surprise.”
Mr. Christopher Ahangba Ayati, a Security Analyst, Director of Information in the State Ministry of Education and a Community Leader in Ayati, one of the worst hit Christian villages in Ukum County, in an interview with TruthNigeria, called on the Federal Government to deploy military personnel to flashpoints as Fulani terrorists set to return as River Benue begins to dry up.
According to Ayati, “Our people in Sankera have been experiencing a fragile peace for the past few months due to high volume of the River Benue which hinders Fulani militia from crossing from neighboring Taraba State through Akwana stream to kill our people and then retreat back. The terrorists are set to return to commit their usual genocide against our people as the dry season resurfaces. The government knows this but won’t do the right thing. I call on the Nigerian Government to quickly and massively deploy military personnel to strategic points in order to nip the impending genocide in the bud.”
Member of Nigerian Parliament Speaks
Pastor Ojotu Ojema, the Federal Lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the Nigerian National Assembly, while bearing his mind on the looming carnage in Benue State as dry season begins in Nigeria in a phone interview with TruthNigeria, called on the governments at all levels to prepare ahead of time.
“Yes, killing of locals by Fulani terrorists is higher during dry season due to (the) low level of River Benue, which gives the terrorists from neighboring Nasarawa and Kogi States easy access to unleash mayhem on our people in rural communities of Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas (counties). As the Parliamentarian representing the Constituency, which one of the epicenters of Fulani Terrorism in the Middle Belt Region, I have been speaking with heads of Operation Whirl Stroke, Mobile Policemen (Mopol-80) and other security agencies to redouble their efforts and always be on alert the dry season commences, in order to prevent of the repeat of massive killing of our people since 2013.
Traditional Chiefs, Community Elders Call for Border Control
Traditional leaders and community elders are also urging the state and federal governments to reinforce border patrols and early warning systems. They say intelligence sharing between Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states could help prevent another wave of deadly incursions.
“The government must not wait for another massacre before acting,” said Chief Daniel Abomtse, Gwer-West Monarch. “We know when they come and we know the routes. They all cross from Nasarawa State through the River Benue to commit genocide against my people in Gwer-West Local Government. As I am talking to you, many of the Fulani terrorists refused to cross back to Nasarawa during rainy season are still carrying out pockets of attacks and killing of our people. We don’t want the repeat of the genocide against our people in the past months. All we need is protection as drying season begins”, said Chief Abomtse, who early cried for the withdrawal of the Military from Gwer-West due to worsening insecurity.
As Benue prepares for another potentially volatile season, many residents are calling for sustained surveillance, aerial monitoring and the strengthening of local vigilante networks to safeguard lives and farmlands.
Without urgent action, observers fear the coming months could once again plunge parts of the state into chaos, a tragic repeat of a familiar and preventable genocide.
Ekani Olikita, a Conflict Reporter for TruthNigeria.
