‘Benue killings not farmers-herders clash’ – CDS Musa explains real causes of crisis

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has dismissed the widely held notion of a “farmers-herders clash,” asserting instead that the real issue stems from animals encroaching on farmlands, not a mutual confrontation.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Gen. Musa identified three major factors fueling the persistent violence in Benue State and across other parts of Nigeria: land disputes, the uncontrolled movement of livestock, and animal rustling.

He emphasized that the lingering crisis over land ownership — often pitting indigenes against non-indigenes — is a politically rooted issue that demands a political solution, not a military one.

“Now, from what I have observed, two or three basic things, one is the issue of land, [between] indigene and non indigene, [is] critical, which is political. That’s supposed to be sorted out politically,” he said.

The CDS further challenged the terminology “farmers-herders clash,” arguing that such phrasing misrepresents the reality on the ground.

“Secondly, the issue of the movement of animals. I’ve told people over time that when they say farmer-headers clash, clash means two things are moving. But if a farm is [just there] and an animal comes in, it is not a clash, it’s somebody entering somebody’s [asset]. So we must find solutions to how, which means if the animals don’t move, we don’t have issues.”

He added that rustling, which often arises from the unregulated movement of animals, further complicates the crisis.

“Now again, because of that again, we have issues of rustling of animals, which means if we don’t even rustle animals again that are moving again, there won’t be most of this problem.

“So that we must be able to address, and like I said, most of it is a political solution that needs to come into it, because it not what the military can solve. What we can stop is to try and stop people from attacking people.”

His comments come in the wake of a horrific attack on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly burnt alive in a violent assault linked to suspected herdsmen.