Calls for urgent security reforms echoed across Benue State as citizens gathered in Makurdi at a News Central Town Hall to confront the deepening wave of violence plaguing the region. The forum brought together traditional leaders, security officials, civil society groups, survivors, and community heads to seek lasting solutions to the crisis.
Participants recounted chilling experiences of coordinated attacks that have devastated rural communities. Since 2009, Fulani militia assaults have targeted over 110 communities, leaving thousands dead and more than two million people displaced. The past two years alone have seen over 1,000 fatalities, highlighting the scale and urgency of the conflict.
Government officials at the meeting acknowledged the crisis, linking it to issues like climate change. Chief Dr. Amos Gizo, Executive Chairman of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, assured attendees that efforts were underway to address the root causes. However, many at the event voiced frustration over the slow response, lack of justice, and persistent insecurity.
One survivor, Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, described the situation as ethnic cleansing, warning of the systematic nature of the attacks targeting farming populations, destroying homes, and forcing mass evacuations.
The humanitarian impact dominated discussions, with many displaced persons now living in dire conditions. Participants emphasized the need for coordinated relief operations alongside sustainable peacebuilding strategies to resolve underlying land and ethnic disputes.
News Central’s Managing Director, Kayode Akintemi, reaffirmed the media outlet’s commitment to truth and solution-driven journalism, pledging to amplify the voices of affected communities.
As the event concluded, a unified appeal for peace, accountability, and reconciliation emerged from survivors and leaders, underlining the urgent need for effective security and long-term recovery measures.
