Introduction to Farmer and Herder Land Conflicts in Benue State

Benue State occupies a central place in Nigeria’s agricultural economy. As a predominantly farming region with fertile soils and extensive river systems, it sustains local livelihoods and contributes significantly to national food security. Alongside farming communities, mobile and semi-settled herding groups have historically depended on seasonal access to grazing routes, water points, and post-harvest farmland. For many years, relations between these groups were managed through customary norms, mutual dependence, and negotiated coexistence

In recent years, however, farmer–herder conflicts have become a major source of insecurity, displacement, and livelihood disruption in the state. These conflicts arise from a combination of environmental pressures, social tensions, governance challenges, and changing land-use patterns. Incidents that begin as crop damage, stray livestock, or disputes over water access can escalate quickly, especially where early prevention mechanisms are weak or trust has eroded.

Land in Benue is not only an economic resource but also a symbol of identity, heritage, and belonging. Farming communities associate land with ancestry and food security, while herding communities depend on access to land and water for the survival of livestock. Increasing population, expansion of cultivation into traditional grazing corridors, and reduced resting points have intensified competition over farmland, riverbanks, and forest areas.

Environmental stress, including erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and shrinking pasturee has further heightened pressure on available resources. Herders are often compelled to move livestock through cultivated areas more frequently, increasing the likelihood of crop damage and confrontation. At the same time, limited formal land documentation and a plural land tenure system where statutory law coexists with customary practice create uncertainty over boundaries, routes, and seasonal access.

Repeated cycles of violence have weakened trust between communities. Rumours and misinformation spread rapidly where communication channels are weak, and unresolved grievances can turn small disputes into wider clashes. Yet most disputes are not initially taken to courts or law enforcement. Instead, communities rely on informal and hybrid justice mechanisms led by traditional rulers, religious leaders, elders, peace committees, women leaders, and youth representatives. These actors conduct early warning, mediation, damage assessment, compensation negotiation, and reconciliation, while formal institutions are usually approached only when community processes fail or violence occurs.

Local justice pathways emphasise prevention, dialogue, and restorative restitution rather than punishment. Public apologies, witnessed verbal agreements, negotiated compensation, and forgiveness are commonly used to repair harm and restore coexistence.

These guidelines respond to the need to strengthen and organise such community- based approaches rather than replace them. Based on 65 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted across Benue State, they document practical best practices that have worked in real situations. By grounding interventions in local realities and reinforcing trusted processes, the guidelines aim to reduce violence, protect livelihoods, and support sustained peaceful coexistence between farming and herding communities.