From Oluseye Ojo, Lagos; Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki; Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri; Okey Sampson, Umuahia; Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar; Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa; Jude Chinedu, Enugu; Tony Osauzo, Benin; Aloysius Attah, Onitsha and Scholastica Hir, Makurdi.
For many years, reports of herdsmen attacking communities in many parts of the country made headlines nearly every day. Many people, especially farmers and innocent residents lost their lives, while farmlands, houses and property were razed in many states.
Then, gradually, the attacks seemingly lost their intensity, and hitherto besieged communities heaved a sigh of relief.
But these days, attacks by suspected armed herders seem to be coming back in many communities in some states in the South-East and South-South.
While a few states are relatively safe from the menace of these suspected killer herders, some others have been experiencing attacks, kidnapping and killings.
Ebonyi
In Ebonyi State, the herdsmen menace, which used to be a thing of the past, has started recurring. In February this year, over 15 persons in Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area of the state were reportedly massacred by suspected herdsmen.
Houses and other valuable property were burnt during the attack. It was gathered that the herdsmen have attacked the area about three times. The last attack, which extended to its neighbours – Egedegede, Obegu and others – had occurred about four years ago. But the killing of more than 15 members of the community by the herdsmen signified their return to the community.
The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Thompson Edeh said during the attack that two members of the community were missing.
“The herdsmen attacked a total of three villages – Amagu, Amaokwe and Umunesha. We are still recovering the bodies of the casualties. Now, the number has increased to 15, and we are looking for two others,” Igwe Ebe stated.
“I had written a report to the governor and copied security agencies, because the problem started from January 20 till January 31 2025.
“We have continued to meditate between the Agila in Benue State, and the Fulani herdsmen even invited them to my house in Abakaliki to talk to them over their cows that were allegedly killed,” he said.
Imo
The tragic story of herdsmen attacks has also resurfaced in Imo State. Most of the communities affected are in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state. Indigenes of Ndegwu, Amakohia-Ubi, Avu, Obinze, and Ngor-Okpala, among others have cried bitterly about the menace of the attack of the herdsmen. At some of the affected communities, it was reported that the herdsmen have continually destroyed property and abducted the indigenes of the area.
At Amakohia-Ubi and Ndegwu particularly, more than 15 persons are believed to have been abducted in the last three months, with some of the victims dead. The targets in these places, as gathered, are mostly farmers and land speculators. These people are abducted on their farms and huge ransoms are demanded. Some victims have allegedly been killed.
At Amakohia-Ubi, a youth was abducted and killed by suspected herders. And at Ndegwu, a poor 70-year-old man was abducted. When it was obvious that he could not pay the ransom, he was severely injured and released.
Similarly, a female farmer, simply known as Kelechi, recalled how she escaped from the alleged killer herders.
Her words: “I have finished harvesting my palm nuts when I saw two men who suddenly ambushed me. They demanded my phone. I gave them but I don’t know what gave me courage. I threw the basket of harvested palm nuts at their faces and ran away. They tried to shoot at me, but God saved me.
The series of attacks have made some farmers in these areas abandon their farmlands. A community leader from Ndegwu, Oluchukwu Iroegbulam said the matter had been reported to the appropriate authorities, adding that the security agencies had been doing their best to dislodge the suspected killer herders. Residents praised the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma who they claimed had been leading operations to areas where alarms were raised.
Abia
In Abia State, it was gathered that some residents came out to resist the invasion of their communities by suspected herders.
Fulani herders were said to have invaded Umuokwe, Umuhu-Ezechi community in Bende Local Government of the state sometime ago, but were resisted by the community.
Said the traditional ruler of the area, Eze Chigaemezu: “Yes, they came. They destroyed our farmlands and my people said no to their stay and they had no choice than to leave.” It was the same at Idima Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area where a community leader, Chief Ike Okoro said the herders came in their numbers to the community, but the people said no to their visit, and they were forced to make a retreat. As it were in Umuokwe, Umuhu-Ezechi and Idima Abam, so it was at Akpaa Mbato in Obingwa Local Government of the state when some herders allegedly invaded the community with their cows. But if the Fulani herders’ incursions were resisted without qualms in the aforementioned communities, it was a different ball game at Nkpa, in Bende Local Government.
It was reported that while resisting the invasion of the herders, one of the herdsmen reportedly died. Abia police command was said to have thereafter invited some of the community leaders for questioning.
Cross River
In Cross River State, the challenge between herders and farmers has been largely contained. The last major dispute between herders and the local community happened in December 2024, with the reports of herdsmen clashing with members of Okoyong Usanga Abasi, Ikot Essien, and Atang Mbakara Okoyong communities in Odukpani Local Government Area of the state. At the time, herdsmen in their numbers were said to have occupied farmlands belonging to the local community. Damages incurred by farmers in the area was said to have been worth millions of Naira, with some local farmers displaced.
Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, a leader of the Hausa/Fulani community in Ntan Obu, Odukpani LGA, said his people were committed to peaceful coexistence with their host community.
He said they have kept their cows under control, respecting the value of economic crops. Since then, the crisis has been largely contained and has not recurred this year.
Bayelsa
Over the years, several communities in Bayelsa State have been affected by the disruptive activities of herders. Not only are farms destroyed, lives have been lost, while many people have been maimed and livelihoods threatened.
In recent times, the communities have been forced to stage peaceful protests to draw the attention of the government to their plight. Investigations revealed that communities in Sagbama. Ekeremor, Souhern Ijaw, Kolokuma/ Opokuma, Yenagoa, and Ogbia Local Government Areas have been worse hit by the herdsmen attacks. At Okutukutu, a community in Yenagoa Local Government Area where an elderly woman was allegedly raped by suspected herdsmen, the women staged a protest calling on the government to find a solution to the menace of the herders.
One of the women, Mrs Giabo Moneyman said, ‘’I went to my farm and saw herdsmen. I told them to leave but they ignored me. I repeated my plea and they still ignored me. They now uprooted my cassava and gave it to the cows to eat. If you go to my farm now, you will pity. My farm has been destroyed.’’
Another victim, Mrs Sarah Wilcox accused herdsmen of invading farms and uprooting cassava for the cows to eat while threatening farmers with attacks if they protest. She called on the state government to curb the activities of the herders before people take laws into their hands.
The paramount ruler of Edeipe community, Shadrach Utavie lamented that there is a potent force behind the herdsmen, noting that it would be difficult to curtail their disruptive activities. According to him, he had had a personal experience to conclude that unless the government takes a decisive action, stopping the destruction of farmlands by herders would just be wishful thinking.
His words: “ During my time as a youth president of the community, when the herdsmen kept coming to destroy our farmlands, we retaliated and killed a cow. To our greatest surprise, the herders went to the police station and petitioned the whole community. We were forced to pay for the dead cow, while no action was taken on our destroyed farmlands.’’
The tense situation in Bayelsa communities had forced the Bayelsa State government to summon an emergency meeting with traditional rulers, chairmen of Community Development Committees, as well as youth and women leaders to find a workable solution to address the unrest in several communities because of herders’ activities.
Enugu
The security situation in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, has drawn public attention following attacks by suspected herdsmen in Mgbuji and Akor communities. While past incidents of violence in the area remain undisputed, recent claims of mass killings have sparked controversy, with community leaders denying such reports. Hundreds of protesters, mostly women were seen, recently, protesting against the attacks and calling on the government to intervene. A woman who claimed she was recently raped in Abor Eha-Amufu, Amarachi Nnaji, recounted her experience in the hands of herders.
“They put their hands in the zip of my cloth and tore it open, but I kept holding my cloth very tight until the two people dragged me into the middle of the cassava farm and subdued me there,” she said.
The President-General of Mgbuji Eha-Amufu, Donatus Odoh, who confirmed the recently reported attacks by suspected herders, said that the last time there was mass killings in the area was back in 2022.
“Nothing happened here in Mgbuji, Eha-Amufu two weeks ago. But there was an incident that occurred in another autonomous community in February.
“There was one Igwurube Ndubuisi Donatus that was killed, but I cannot give details of what happened to him because I was not there. The way you heard it was the same way I got the information,” he said. Another community leader, Chief Richard Ogenyi, admitted that there were isolated incidents involving herders who attacked villagers and farmers.
Edo
Despite the anti-grazing laws passed by several states across the South-South Region, incidents of grazing cattle on farmlands by herders have continued unchecked, resulting in violence and killings.
In Edo State, such killings have occurred in Okpekpe in Etsako East, where three farmers, Batemue Philip Ebo, Christopher Bello, and Victor Ogedengbe, were reportedly killed recently.
Similarly, two residents were abducted, while four others suffered gun and machete wounds when herders invaded the Dantata Life Camp in Aviele, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State last Sunday at about 8pm. An eyewitness, who gave his name as Abu, said the killer herders opened fire on the residents in a bid to kidnap the people while they were about to break their fast.
He said one Mutairu Dauda, who resisted the invaders was injured with a cutlass and also shot at, but he survived the attack.
“I can confirm to you that killers herdsmen invaded the Dantata Life camp in Aviele, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state on Sunday night at about 8pm.
“They opened fire on residents. A particular man who stood and fought with them as they were trying to either kill or kidnap him, sustained various degrees of machete injury before and they also shot him.
“His wife, daughter and mother in-law also suffered machete wounds. Dauda, a furniture maker, is currently at Irrua specialist hospital receiving treatment,” he said. The incessant attacks on farmers by herders in their farms and alleged surge in crime in the state, has pitted the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the State Government in constant accusations and counter-accusations over the state of security in state.
Anambra
Anambra has been relatively calm in recent times on issues of herdsmen invasion of farmlands and other criminal activities.
The increased surveillance activities of vigilante services, coupled with community engagements in security matters have reduced such instances in different communities in Anambra South and Central zones of the state, though parts of these zones suffer the activities of non-state actors who engage in wanton killings and kidnapping for ransom until the recent launch of Operation Udo Ga Achi by the state government.
However, the agrarian communities in Anambra North Zone of the state still continue to grapple with the menace of herders. Places like Umumbo, Umuerum , Omor, Anaku in Ayamelum Local Government, and Achalla, Amanuke, Isuaniocha in Awka- North LGA have recorded cases of invasion of farmlands and kidnap for ransom, all traced to the Fulani herders.
Innocent Oruya , a community leader in Umuerum community told Saturday Sun that some farmers were kidnapped recently in the community and families of the victims had to resort to communal assistance to raise money as ransom for the release of the abducted ones. He said that till today, farmers, especially females are still afraid of venturing into their farms because of the criminal activities of the herders.
“Our people are afraid because the herders are daring and dangerous. They kidnap, kill and rape their victims. And people discuss their activities in hushed tones because you may be the next victim,” he stated.
In Achala community, a school teacher and farmer was rescued together with four other youths from the community who were already abducted by the herdsmen before they were intercepted by the vigilante operatives from Igbariam community.
Narrating their ordeal, the teacher-farmer, identified as Peter, said the armed herders ambushed him when he was riding into the market square on his motorcycle when they commandeered him to the bush.
He said they used a knife to cause him serious bodily injuries that affected his eyes before they also took four other men who were inside the bush to get canes for their upcoming masquerade festival.
President General of Anambra State Town Union Association (ASATU), Chief Titus Akpudo in a chat with the reporter said that under the newly introduced Anambra Homeland Security Law, the President General of various town unions have been made the Chief Security Officer of their various communities.
“They have been given the mandate to keep and get accurate records and identities of all residents in their communities. With the data at hand and through the empowerment of various community vigilante operatives by the state government, the forests and farmlands are also guided properly so as to ensure there are no security breaches anymore. With this in place, Anambra is winning the war against these marauders and foreign invaders,” he stated.
Benue
For several years, armed herdsmen have been killing innocent farmers and villagers in Benue state, abducting and destroying their crops and property worth billions of naira. Our correspondent reports that the mayhem have continued unabated despite several security measures put in place by the state government including the recent launch and deployment of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards and the Joint Task Force code named “Anyam Nyor” meaning “The Lion has Entered.”
Killings have continued from Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Otukpo, Agatu, and Guma, among others, as armed herdsmen have continued to invade communities killing and maiming villagers and displacing others.
Available reports show that on February 2, 2025, three hunters were killed with several others wounded when they clashed with armed herdsmen at Okpomaju village in Okete Ward of Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The incident, according to sources, occurred during a hunting expedition in the area.
On February 16, some herdsmen reportedly killed 16 farmers in Kwande LGA and dropped their bodies in River Katsina-Ala.
Also on March 5, , gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia, again, attacked Okpomaju community in Otukpo Local Government Area, (LGA), of the state, killing five hunters and injuring several others.
On March 9, herdsmen reportedly killed 11 persons in Katsina-Ala, injured seven others and set fire on property worth millions of naira, including houses and foodstuff. On March 18, bandits allegedly acting in cahoots with herdsmen militia also killed a police officer in Buruku LGA and on March 19, five persons were, again reportedly killed by bandits in two communities in Kwande LGA of the state. On Tuesday, several groups and individuals held a protest rally against herdsmen Otukpo area of the state.
A source told the reporter: “The killing of Akatu Onche in ASA 2, Otukpo community on Monday, March 31, 2025 and the kidnapping of others was what broke the camel’s back. These atrocities were said to have been masterminded by the herdsmen.
“Before Onche, several others have been killed in cold blood, allegedly by the herdsmen.
“Similar incidents are presently going on in Ugboju and Adoka communities of Otukpo LGA. Farm crops, including yam seedlings and cassava are being uprooted by the herders and fed to their animals.”
South West
In the South West geo-political zone, the upsurge in farmer-herder clashes, kidnapping cases and banditry are being felt more in Ondo State, than in the other five states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti, in the zone.
For the residents of Ondo State, the past four months have been a nightmare, marred by the relentless grip of banditry.
In a particularly alarming incident, 10 travellers on the Benin-Owo highway were abducted recently near the Ipele area of Owo Local Government. Their plight ended only when the Amotekun Corps intervened and rescued them from the clutches of bandits.
However, three farmers in Akure North Local Government were not as fortunate. They were kidnapped and later released after the payment of N5million ransom. In January, this year, five farmers were gunned down in the Ajegunle-Powerline community. Also, a septuagenarian woman in Ifira, Akoko,. was raped by the criminal gang on her way back from the farm.
A 50-year old man, Olanrewaju Oyeleye, who returned to Nigeria from abroad recently to invest in farming, was also a victim of these criminal elements. The bandits invaded his farm and abducted him. He wasn’t freed until after the payment of a hefty ransom.
The abduction of nine surveyors in Akure also gained traction in the public space. They were abducted at a site in Ilu Abo, and were freed after payment of ransom.
The bandits also ravaged four communities of Ademekun, Aba Pastor, Aba Sunday, and Alajido in the Akoko area. They reportedly burnt houses in the affected communities, and killed some villagers.
Meanwhile, the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State has announced that the state-powered security agency nabbed at least 32 men suspected to be kidnappers in some forests in the state.
In a bid to tackle the surge in insecurity in the state, the Ondo State Government has also set up a joint security taskforce, to tackle the security challenges.
In Oyo State, a member of the House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, who is the Chairperson, House Committee on Humanitarian Services, raised the alarm about two weeks ago that armed herdsmen have invaded Ogunmakin, Gambari Reserve, and surrounding communities in her Oluyole Federal Constituency. She accused the armed herdsmen of deliberately targeting farm produce. But it was gathered that the appropriate quarters have taken pragmatic steps on the alarm.
The Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones of Oyo States that are hotbeds of kidnapping and farmer-herder clashes have also turned relatively peaceful.
In Ogun State, the last time a major case of kidnapping was reported was when Alhaja Sikirat Odumosu, wife of former Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, was kidnapped on January 16. 2025, in Ogun State, and a ransom of N100million was demanded by her captor for her release.
But operatives of the Nigeria Police Force successfully neutralised her kidnappers, rescued her, and recovered the ransom money earlier paid for her release.
Reports from Osun, Ekiti and Lagos States revealed that the interventions of critical stakeholders have reduced incessant clashes between farmers and herders to the extent that such are not being reported any longer.
Afenifere National Youth President, Eniola Ojajuni, was kidnapped on February 17, 2025, while travelling from Ondo State to Abuja, and spent 12 days in the kidnappers’ den. The incident raised concerns that a full blown kidnapping spree might engulf the whole of South West soon, if decisive actions are not taken to tackle the menace.
He said he gathered during his days in the criminals’ den that “the criminals have established well-organised kidnapping camps across South West Nigeria, strategically positioned for their operations. These include 27 camps in Ondo State, 16 in Ekiti, seven in Osun, and five camps in Ogun State,” Ojajuni stated.