By Ade Iyamoye
Stakeholders from Benue and Nasarawa States have converged in Abuja for a three-day forum aimed at remapping the evolving conflict in the Benue Valley, strengthening interfaith dialogue, and building mediation capacity for peace in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
The forum, convened under the Strengthening Community Resilience (SCORE) Programme, is being implemented by the Foundation for Justice, Development and Peace (FJDP), Makurdi, in collaboration with Misereor, and with the support of the Austrian Embassy in Abuja.
In a press conference called in Abuja on February 17, 2026, the Head of Dialogue and Partnership Service, Misereor, Julia Krojer noted that the conflict situation in Benue and Nasarawa has intensified and changed significantly in recent years, moving beyond what was previously described as farmer-herder clashes.
According to Krojer, the violence has become more complex and increasingly organised, involving coordinated attacks on communities, destruction of homes and livelihoods, kidnappings, and the targeting of civilians and religious sites.
She cited the June 2025 attack in Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where assaults on Yelewata and Daudu villages reportedly led to the killing of dozens to over 200 persons, destruction of homes, and displacement of families.
She said the development underscores the need for an updated, evidence-based understanding of the conflict, alongside stronger mechanisms for dialogue, mediation, and peaceful coexistence among affected communities.
The DSP Head of Misereor said the organisation has worked with FJDP for over 15 years on the conflict, including trauma-sensitive interventions and support for internally displaced persons.
Krojer explained that the current reality requires a fresh assessment of the conflict drivers, noting that the situation has moved beyond the traditional narrative of farmers versus herders.
“We have to look and see what other factors are in it, and who are the driving forces in the conflicts,” she said, adding that the forum would provide an opportunity for communities to propose solutions that can be implemented through ongoing programmes.
Also speaking, the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Peter Guschelbauer, said Austria decided to support the initiative as part of its commitment to interfaith dialogue, mediation in conflict situations, and human rights protection, particularly for internally displaced persons.
Drawing from Austria’s experience of conflict in the 20th century, the ambassador stressed that dialogue and confidence-building remain essential pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity.
He said the forum’s focus on conflict remapping and trust-building would help create clearer understanding of the situation and guide stakeholders toward implementable solutions.
On his part, the Director of FJDP, Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Philip Apun Doolumun, described the forum as a timely intervention to reassess what has changed in the Benue Valley and rebuild trust among communities.
He noted that the Benue Valley was once a region of peaceful coexistence and agricultural abundance, but has now become a theatre of persistent violence.
In an interview, Fr. Doolumun said the remapping exercise is necessary because the conflict has evolved beyond farmer-herder disputes, adding that the forum would help stakeholders identify the real actors and underlying factors fueling the violence.
Representing the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, the Director of Mission and Dialogue Department, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Chukwunweike Emehel, urged participants to embrace open-mindedness and constructive dialogue.
He described the Benue Valley crisis as complex and stressed the need to move from a position where former neighbours have become strangers, back to restored relationships and renewed hope.
The forum is expected to bring together representatives of government institutions, security agencies, farmer and herder associations, peace and boundary commissions, as well as traditional and religious leaders from affected local government areas in Benue and Nasarawa States.
Organisers said the meeting will specifically aim to develop a shared, evidence-based understanding of evolving conflict dynamics, strengthen interfaith collaboration, and enhance the capacity of key actors in mediation, conflict prevention, and peaceful dispute resolution.
The stakeholders’ engagement, they added, will provide a neutral space for reflection, joint problem-solving, and consensus-building, with the goal of promoting reconciliation, social cohesion, and human security in one of Nigeria’s most conflict-affected regions.
