A video circulating on social media has sent shockwaves across Benue State, as a Fulani herdsman issued a dire warning to Tiv communities, vowing violent retaliation if attacks on Fulani cattle persist. The chilling message, delivered in Hausa, has raised alarms over a potential escalation in the long-standing farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
In the now-viral footage, the unidentified herdsman declared that Fulani pastoralists would no longer tolerate being driven out of Benue, asserting their rights as Nigerians.
“Benue State does not belong to the Tiv people alone,” he said, his tone laced with menace. “We are Nigerians too, and no one can chase us out. If the Tiv people continue to provoke us, we will retaliate and wipe them out.”
The threat took a more ominous turn as he warned of an impending occupation of Makurdi, the state capital. “Anyone who stands in our way will be killed,” he vowed, listing villages such as Kadorko and Balatidaudu as possible targets.
Even more alarming was his declaration that Fulani assailants would begin intercepting buses traversing Benue, selectively eliminating passengers identified as Tiv.
“If you are not Tiv, you are safe,” he stated, a statement that could foreshadow ethnically motivated killings reminiscent of past conflicts in the region.
The herdsman also took aim at President Bola Tinubu, mocking his recent visit to Benue, where he was seen laughing during official engagements.
“During our next attack, Tinubu will not laugh—he will cry,” the man sneered, suggesting that the federal government’s perceived indifference would soon turn to regret.
As of press time, neither the Benue State government nor federal security agencies have issued an official statement regarding the threats. The identity of the speaker remains unconfirmed, leaving residents anxious over whether this is an isolated rant or a prelude to coordinated violence.
Benue State has been a flashpoint for farmer-herder clashes, with frequent reports of massacres, arson, and mass displacements. The state’s anti-open grazing law, enacted in 2017, has been a contentious issue, with Fulani groups accusing Tiv farmers of using it to justify attacks on herders.
Local leaders are now calling for urgent intervention before the situation spirals into full-blown ethnic warfare.
Across Benue, fear is spreading. Markets in rural areas reported lower turnout Wednesday, while travelers are reconsidering road trips.
As tensions reach a boiling point, the question remains: Will the authorities take decisive action, or will Benue witness another tragic chapter in its history of violent clashes?
