By Emmanuel Sam David
Benue State, once renowned as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” illustrates a troubling decline from agricultural prosperity to desolation. Historically, its fertile lands yielded abundant harvests of yams, cassava, maize, and beans, providing sustenance not only for Nigeria’s Middle Belt but also for far-reaching regions across the country. The state was characterized by lush fields and thriving farms, supported by a robust agricultural community that took pride in its contributions to national food security.
In stark contrast, the present landscape reveals a haunting transformation. Many of the once-bustling farms in local government areas such as Guma, Logo, and Gwer West now lie abandoned, their fields overgrown and neglected. Barns that once stored bountiful harvests have been either looted or set ablaze, leaving farmers devastated and without resources. This deterioration is not merely the result of economic hardship; it reflects a broader humanitarian crisis rooted in escalating violence.
What began as isolated clashes between herders and farmers, often driven by competition for land and water, has spiraled into a complex conflict involving political strife and pervasive insecurity. As tensions rise, many farmers have been forcibly displaced from their homes, uprooted from generations of agricultural heritage, and pushed into precarious living conditions. The intertwining of politics, violence, and the struggle for survival has created a dire scenario, undermining the very fabric of community life and threatening the future of agriculture in Benue State. The once-vibrant agricultural hub now stands as a poignant reminder of the impacts of conflict, calling for urgent attention and solutions to restore its former glory.
In the dusty roads of Makurdi, the capital of the state, displaced farmers are crowding into makeshift camps, holding onto memories of fertile land they may never see again. “We reported the attacks, but no one came,” says one farmer now living by the roadside near Gbajimba. “Our seed yams were burned. How can we start again?” His question captures the despair of thousands whose livelihoods depend on the soil.
At the heart of the crisis is a struggle over land, power, and resources. As desertification forces herders to move southward and grazing routes become limited, competition for land and water has erupted into violence. This issue is not merely ecological; it has become deeply political. Local leaders accuse federal authorities of neglect, while state officials cite weak security measures and porous borders. Each level of government shifts the blame, leaving the farmers and farmhands to bear the consequences.
In April 2025, Benue State experienced an alarming surge in food inflation, reaching an unprecedented year-on-year rate of 51.76% and a month-on-month increase of 25.59%. These figures represent the highest rates in Nigeria during that time (Nairametrics, 2025). In stark contrast, the national food inflation rate for the same month was significantly lower at 21.26%.
This dramatic spike in inflation can be attributed to several interrelated factors. A collapsing supply chain has disrupted the flow of goods, leading to shortages and increased prices. Additionally, many workers within the agricultural sector have been dislocated due to economic instability, further exacerbating the situation. Moreover, diminishing harvests caused by adverse weather conditions and poor farming practices have contributed to the rising costs of food, making it increasingly difficult for residents to afford necessities. The confluence of these issues underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to stabilize the food market and support vulnerable populations in the state.
When farmers abandon their land due to fears of attack, the planting and harvesting of crops are either delayed or canceled entirely. A 2024 survey conducted in local government areas prone to insecurity in Benue (such as Guma, Agatu, and Gwer West) revealed that a 1% increase in reported insecurity resulted in a 0.211% decrease in crop output and a 0.311% decrease in livestock output (Arxiv, 2024). Consequently, this leads to fewer yams, maize, and beans reaching the markets.
Nationally, the stakes are even higher. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects that 26.5 million Nigerians will face high levels of food insecurity in 2024, with about 9 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, including 2.6 million children facing severe acute malnutrition (FAO, 2024). In the context of Benue’s collapsing production and surging prices, the consequences ripple far beyond the state’s borders.
Politically, the Benue crisis has become a test of leadership. Despite the state’s 2017 ban on open-grazing, enforcement has been inconsistent and contested. Government deployments often arrive late or leave early. Analysts argue the problem persists because it feeds on political patronage networks where ethnic identity and religious fault lines overshadow conflict resolution. Security interventions remain reactive, not preventive.
In camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Daudu and Agatu, humanitarian workers describe worsening food insecurity: rations are provided, but they are stop-gaps. Each missed planting season increases dependence on aid and reduces local market supply. Young people once active in agriculture are migrating to cities seeking safety or casual labor instead. The local economy is stalled.
The violence has severely impacted basic services. In some rural schools, only a handful of students attend, safeguarded by local vigilantes. Health centers are witnessing an increase in malnutrition cases among children, a tragic irony in a state that once nourished the entire nation. Without urgent intervention, food insecurity is poised to escalate into famine in certain areas of the Middle Belt.
Beneath the statistics lie stories of resilience. On the outskirts of Makurdi, a cooperative of displaced women has embarked on small-scale vegetable farming on rented land. Their leader emphasizes, “We cannot wait for peace to arrive before we can eat.” However, such initiatives remain precarious without secure land tenure, access to resources, and stable markets.
Experts emphasize that the solution must start with credible governance. Security operations need genuine coordination between federal and state agencies. Policies on grazing, land use, rural development, and conflict resolution require national dialogue free from ethnic or religious bias. Above all, politicians must stop treating the crisis as campaign rhetoric and treat it as a national emergency.
Benue’s tragedy is not isolated; it mirrors a broader Nigerian dilemma where violence, politics, and food systems are interwoven. The country’s ability to feed itself now hinges not only on rainfall and fertilizer, but on political will and peace. Until the guns fall silent in Nigeria’s food basket, the promise of abundance will remain an empty slogan.
Emmanuel Samdave Onuche, is a Corps member currently serving with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja, and can be reached via: samuelsamdave@gmail.com
