Examining the Role of Resource Control and Ethnic Crisis in Benue Killings

Abstract

Benue State, often referred to as Nigeria’s Food Basket, has gradually transformed into one of the nation’s most volatile conflict zones. Beneath its fertile lands and rich cultural heritage lies a protracted struggle rooted in competition over land and water resources, compounded by deepening ethnic tensions. This study investigated the intersection between resource-based conflicts and ethnic divisions that have triggered cycles of violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises. The research explored how fertile land that was once a source of prosperity for the Tiv and Idoma farming communities has become a contested space, especially with desertification pushing nomadic Fulani herders southward. This growing competition over dwindling resources has led to recurrent, often deadly, clashes. Ethnic identities have increasingly been instrumentalized to legitimize violence and advance political and economic claims, thereby widening intergroup mistrust. The crisis is further aggravated by weak governance, ineffective security responses, and controversial policy measures such as the Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition Law, which has at times intensified, rather than mitigated, hostilities. Focusing on highly affected Local Government Areas, namely, Guma, Logo, Agatu, Katsina-Ala, and Ukum. The study analyzed how resource scarcity, ethnic rivalries, and political exclusion intersect to sustain violence. It highlights the limitations of state interventions, often perceived as biased, prompting communities to embrace vigilantism. This study has contributed to the ongoing discourse by advocating for conflict-sensitive resource management, inclusive governance, and peacebuilding strategies aimed at addressing root causes and restoring sustainable peace in Benue State.