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MAKURDI, BENUE STATE — By Prime Brief Media

The German government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting reconciliation initiatives aimed at resolving the long-standing and often deadly conflict between farming communities and herders in Benue State. The assurance was delivered by German official Thomas Rachel during an official visit to Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi on Sunday, April 27, 2026.

Rachel stated that Germany is willing to back credible efforts that encourage peaceful coexistence, emphasising the critical importance of collaboration and sustained dialogue among all stakeholders. He described Benue as Nigeria's "food basket," acknowledging the state's agricultural significance while noting the persistent challenges confronting it, including farmer-herder clashes, religious tensions, and illegal mining activities.

"Our role is to support the Benue State government with funding from the German government through the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue," Rachel said. "This is an important measure to support peace. It is the responsibility of local leaders to find solutions, but we are committed to supporting initiatives that improve the humanitarian situation and promote peace."

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Swiss-based private diplomacy organisation, has been active in facilitating dialogue between pastoralist and farming communities across Nigeria's Middle Belt region. Germany's funding support signals continued international concern over the humanitarian toll of the conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands from their ancestral homes.

Governor Alia's Response

Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his deputy Sam Ode, expressed confidence that ongoing peace efforts are beginning to produce tangible results, particularly in reducing the frequency and intensity of farmer-herder clashes. He explained that the seasonal movement of pastoralists across West Africa, a centuries-old practice, has increasingly triggered land-use disputes over recent decades, especially as population pressure and climate change shrink available arable land.

"In Benue, over 95 percent of the rural population depends on agriculture. The government has made sustained efforts to de-escalate these conflicts, and we remain committed to that goal," Alia stated. "We are not supporting any group; we have a duty to protect our citizens. Unfortunately, genuine pastoralists have been infiltrated by bandits, leading to senseless killings."

The governor highlighted that the state enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017 to regulate livestock activities and curb the persistent conflicts arising from open grazing. The law, which remains controversial among pastoralist associations, mandates the establishment of ranches as the only permissible method of livestock rearing in the state.

Alia also reiterated Nigeria's status as a secular state, citing constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion and government neutrality. This statement comes against the backdrop of recurring attempts by some commentators to frame the farmer-herder conflict in religious terms.

International Support for Local Solutions

Germany's backing of peace initiatives in Benue aligns with broader international efforts to stabilise Nigeria's North-Central region, where the convergence of climate stress, demographic pressure, and criminal violence has created one of the country's most intractable humanitarian and security challenges.

Analysts note that while external funding and mediation support are valuable, sustainable peace ultimately depends on the political will of local and state-level actors to enforce laws equitably, address grievances, and hold perpetrators of violence accountable regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation.

Prime Brief Media will continue to monitor peacebuilding efforts across Benue State and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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