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As the persistent farmer-herder crisis continues to claim lives and displace thousands across Benue State, Bishop Ogi John Otor has issued a sharp critique of government interventions, asking whether there is nothing federal and state authorities can strategically do other than erecting IDP camps.
In a statement shared widely, the bishop described the conflict as one of the most serious threats to national peace, food security, and social stability, noting that Benue State once known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation” has increasingly become associated with recurring violence. Communities such as Guma, Logo, Agatu, Gwer West, Otukpo, Ado, and Okpokwu have suffered severe humanitarian consequences, including thousands of deaths, mass displacement, destruction of farms, and broken communal relationships.
Bishop Otor acknowledged that despite interventions like anti-open grazing laws, security deployments, peace committees, and dialogue meetings, the conflict persists largely because these efforts focus on political, legal, and military approaches without addressing the deep communication gap and mistrust between farmers and herders. Many communities, he noted, still lack effective channels to discuss grievances peacefully before they escalate into violence. “Today because we are on a killing break everywhere seems to be calm and tomorrow in Kwande or Adikpo hundreds of lives will be lost and you will hear all manner of condolences,” he said.
The bishop questioned whether the government and key actors are truly worried, insisting that certain questions begging for answers must receive attention if lasting peace is to be achieved.
