By CSL Research
The recent resurgence of violence in Benue State has cast a shadow over Nigeria’s already fragile food system.
In a brutal overnight attack on the village of Yelewata between 13 and 14 June 2025, at least 100 people were reportedly killed, hundreds injured, and many more displaced.
Homes were razed, lives were lost, and the community, largely dependent on agriculture, was shattered.
While official figures place the confirmed death toll at around 45, residents and independent observers claim the fatalities are far higher.
This attack is one of the deadliest in recent memory and is symptomatic of the broader insecurity afflicting Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly the protracted conflict between herders and indigenous farming communities.
Benue State is often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation” due to its rich agricultural resources.
The herder-farmer conflict, rooted in competition over dwindling arable land and grazing areas, has escalated over the years, driven by desertification in the north, weak law enforcement, and ethnic tensions.
The nomadic movement of cattle herders into farming communities frequently leads to the destruction of crops, prompting resistance from local populations and triggering cycles of reprisal attacks.
These confrontations have become increasingly organised and deadly, often leading to mass displacements and the abandonment of farmlands.
The economic and food security implications of this violence are profound.
First, the loss of life and destruction of farming communities reduce the availability of labour and deter cultivation during critical planting seasons.
Second, the destruction of crops, storage facilities, and market infrastructure disrupts the entire agricultural value chain, from production and transportation to retail.
Third, displaced populations not only lose their means of livelihood but often migrate to urban areas, placing further strain on food demand in cities while not contributing to the food supply.
This growing insecurity is already feeding into Nigeria’s broader inflationary trends. According to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), while year-on-year food inflation has eased for the fourth consecutive month, month-on-month food inflation rose to 2.2% in May from 2.1% in April.
This seemingly modest uptick masks deeper structural pressures, chief among them, ongoing disruptions to food production caused by insecurity.
As the rainy season progresses, the risk of flooding across agricultural belts is expected to compound these challenges by damaging crops and obstructing access to markets.
The renewed violence in Benue State is more than a local tragedy; it is a national crisis with far-reaching economic implications.
Nigeria cannot hope to achieve food security or control inflation without first addressing the root causes of rural insecurity.
This will require a multi-pronged approach, enhanced security deployment, effective conflict resolution mechanisms, improved land governance, and meaningful support for displaced populations.
In the absence of such coordinated action, food production will remain vulnerable, and inflationary pressures are likely to persist, with devastating consequences for millions of Nigerians.
