Benue Traditional Rulers Extend Ultimatum To Fulani Herdsmen By 14 Days Amid Rising Tensions.
Traditional rulers in Benue State have issued a renewed 14-day ultimatum to nomadic Fulani herdsmen and suspected armed militias, demanding they vacate the state’s farmlands or face severe consequences. The directive, announced on 29 May 2025, extends a previous 10-day notice issued by the Tiv Area Traditional Council, reflecting growing frustration over persistent insecurity and attacks on local communities.
The joint declaration was made by His Royal Majesty Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, alongside His Royal Majesty Chief John Elaigwu Odogbo, the Och’Idoma, during a town hall meeting at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi. The event, marking the second anniversary of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s administration, was organised by Solomon Iorpev, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communications.
The traditional leaders expressed grave concern over the escalating violence attributed to armed groups, widely suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who have been blamed for gruesome attacks on indigenous residents. “The alarming rise in violent attacks, where innocent people are being murdered in their homes, cannot continue,” the council stated, warning that failure to comply with the ultimatum would lead to unspecified repercussions.
This latest directive follows a series of ultimatums issued in recent months, including a 10-day notice by the Tiv Area Traditional Council on 22 May 2025, demanding that herders vacate Tiv farmlands to allow farmers to resume cultivation. The council highlighted that nine of the 14 local government areas in Tiv-speaking regions, including Kwande, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East, and Buruku, have been severely affected by herders’ activities. These areas have seen farming grind to a halt due to the occupation of farmlands and ongoing attacks, raising fears of widespread hunger if the situation persists.
The Benue State Traditional Council’s decision comes amid a long-standing conflict between local farmers and nomadic herders, exacerbated by competition for land and resources. Earlier this year, on 26 April 2025, the chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, James Melvin Ejeh, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to herders to vacate farmlands to ensure safe access for farmers ahead of the planting season.
Residents and traditional leaders have repeatedly accused armed herders of destroying crops, occupying ancestral lands, and perpetrating violent attacks, including killings and kidnappings. The House of Representatives member for Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, Ojema Ojotu, recently described the situation as dire, stating, “The lives of Benue people are worth nothing due to the frequent attacks they suffer.”
The traditional rulers’ ultimatum has sparked mixed reactions. Some residents, voicing sentiments on social media, have called for stronger action beyond ultimatums, with one user stating, “It doesn’t end with ultimatums; these people need a reaction that matches their actions.” However, the council urged local leaders to engage herders peacefully to facilitate their exit, emphasising the need to avoid further escalation.
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has reiterated its commitment to enforcing the state’s anti-open grazing law, which requires herders to ranch their cattle rather than graze openly on farmlands. The traditional rulers’ latest move underscores the urgency of addressing the crisis, which threatens not only Benue’s agricultural economy but also the nation’s food security.
As the 14-day deadline looms, all eyes are on Benue State, with hopes that dialogue and decisive action will restore peace and allow farmers to return to their lands without fear.
