Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has restated his administration’s resolve to consolidate peace across the state, noting that ongoing interventions are yielding results in the effort to end farmer-herder clashes.
The governor spoke in Makurdi on Monday while hosting a German delegation at the Government House. He was represented by his deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, mni.
Governor Alia said the state remains committed to safeguarding lives and property, upholding neutrality, and deepening peacebuilding structures. He explained that seasonal pastoral migration across West Africa has, in recent decades, heightened pressure on land and grazing areas, fueling violent confrontations with farming communities.
“In Benue, over 95 percent of the rural population relies on agriculture. We have made sustained efforts to de-escalate these conflicts, and we will not relent. Government has a duty to protect its citizens and we are committed to strengthening the peacebuilding process,” he said.
Alia recalled that the state enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in 2017 to regulate livestock management and curb clashes.
Earlier, head of the German delegation, Thomas Rachel, a member of the German Parliament and Commissioner for Freedom of Religion and Belief, said Berlin is ready to support reconciliation between farmers and herders in Benue.
Rachel noted that Nigeria and Germany share strong bilateral ties rooted in democratic values, peacebuilding, and development cooperation. He described Benue as Nigeria’s “Food Basket” but acknowledged the state’s challenges, including farmer-herder conflicts, religious tensions, and illegal mining.
He added that Germany seeks to better understand the issues and back solutions through dialogue and stakeholder engagement. According to him, the German government is already funding peacebuilding initiatives in the state via the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
“Our role is to support the Benue State government with funding through the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. This is an important measure to support peace. While local leaders have the responsibility to find solutions, we are committed to backing initiatives that improve the humanitarian situation and promote peace,” Rachel said.
