The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has stated that the term “farmer-herder clash” is misleading, asserting that the real issue lies in the movement of animals into farmlands.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, General Musa identified three core drivers of persistent violence in Benue State and other affected regions: land disputes, animal movement, and livestock rustling.
He argued that what is often labelled a clash is, in fact, a one-sided intrusion: “When they say farmer-herder clash, clash means two things are moving. But if a farm is stationary and an animal enters, it is not a clash — it’s someone encroaching on another’s property.”
General Musa called for political solutions to address land ownership conflicts, particularly disputes between indigenes and non-indigenes.
“That’s supposed to be sorted out politically,” he stated.
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He emphasised that stopping the movement of animals would significantly reduce both violence and livestock theft.
“If the animals don’t move, we don’t have issues. No rustling, no encroachment,” he explained.
Highlighting the limits of military intervention, the Defence Chief urged the government to prioritise policy-based solutions, noting that the military can only act to prevent violence, not resolve underlying socio-political issues.
His comments follow a recent deadly attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly burnt alive in an assault attributed to suspected herdsmen.
The tragedy has drawn widespread condemnation both nationally and internationally.
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