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A video circulating widely on social media platforms has ignited fresh discussions and apprehension in Benue State, with the footage allegedly showing a significant number of Fulani herdsmen relocating into the region alongside their large herds of cattle.
Posted approximately three hours ago by an account identified as “D’n’aked Elder Sughne…” (with a verified badge), the clip depicts an expansive stretch of dry grassland dotted with palm trees, where dozens—if not hundreds—of cattle can be seen grazing and moving across the landscape. The accompanying caption reads simply: “Fulani herdsmen relocating to Benue State in numbers.”
The video, which has garnered 28 likes, 14 comments, and at least one share within a short time, appears to have been recorded in a rural area during daylight hours. Visible in the foreground is a large sack bearing inscriptions associated with products from Kano, leading some viewers to speculate that the herders may have originated from northern Nigeria.
Benue State has long been one of the epicenters of Nigeria’s recurring farmer-herder conflicts. The state government, under successive administrations, has implemented anti-open grazing laws aimed at curbing the movement of cattle across farmlands, with the most notable being the 2017 Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law. These policies have frequently led to tensions, violent clashes, loss of lives, displacement of communities, and destruction of property, particularly in the state’s food-basket regions.
The emergence of this video comes at a time when many communities in Benue remain traumatized by past incidents of violence attributed to armed herders, and when efforts at reconciliation and peaceful coexistence continue to face significant challenges.
While the authenticity and exact location of the footage have not been independently verified, its rapid spread online reflects the heightened sensitivity surrounding any perceived large-scale movement of herders into the state. Several social media users have expressed alarm in the comments section, with some calling on state authorities to intervene swiftly and enforce existing grazing regulations, while others questioned the timing and intent behind the relocation.
As of now, neither the Benue State Government nor official security agencies have issued any public statement regarding the circulating video or the claims it presents. The development, however, underscores the fragile nature of farmer-herder relations in the Middle Belt and the continued potential for misinformation, tension, and conflict whenever images of mass cattle movement surface in the region.
Observers and community leaders have urged calm while calling for transparency from relevant authorities to clarify the situation and prevent the escalation of fear or mistrust among residents. Whether this footage documents a routine seasonal movement, a new wave of migration, or something else entirely remains unclear—but in Benue, such visuals rarely pass without generating deep concern.
