REVEALED: Defence Chief Exposes Real Cause of Benue Crisis | WATCH VIDEO

Abuja, Nigeria - The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has made a bold declaration regarding the persistent conflict between farmers and herders in Benue, asserting that the root causes are largely political and not military, as often portrayed.

Speaking during a national security briefing, General Musa offered what he termed a "realistic and honest" perspective on the underlying triggers of the Benue decades-long crisis. He identified three core issues fueling the violence: land disputes related to indigene-settler tensions, uncontrolled movement of animals, and the criminal activity of cattle rustling.

In a revealing analysis, General Musa dismissed the common phrase "farmer-herder clash" as a mischaracterization of the reality.

"Clash means two things are moving,ÔÇØ he stated. "But if a farmer is standing on his land and an animal invades his farm, that is not a clash-it is an intrusion, a violation of property.ÔÇØ

The CDS emphasized that the indigene versus non-indigene debate, which often leads to land disputes, is deeply political in nature and cannot be solved by force or military presence. He insisted that such issues require clear, constitutional, and political frameworks for long-term resolution.

He further observed that nomadic livestock movement is at the heart of many security incidents. According to General Musa, "If the animals don't move, we don't have issues. It's that simple.ÔÇØ This movement often leads to crop destruction, triggering retaliatory violence and fuelling ethnic tensions.

Adding to the complexity is the widespread cattle rustling, where armed groups steal livestock in transit, thereby sparking cycles of revenge and further destabilizing rural communities.

While the military continues to play a critical role in mitigating violence and preventing attacks, General Musa reiterated that lasting peace cannot be achieved through bullets and boots alone.

"Our role is to prevent people from attacking each other. But we cannot fix political and structural problems with military solutions,ÔÇØ he said.

His comments come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with worsening rural insecurity, banditry, and communal violence-many of which are blamed on or linked to unresolved farmer-herder tensions.

Security experts and policy analysts have long echoed similar sentiments, urging the federal and state governments to implement land reform policies, enforce grazing laws, and establish livestock management systems as sustainable solutions.

General Musa's candid remarks are likely to spark national debate on how to reframe the conversation around farmer-herder conflicts and shift the responsibility from the military to political actors and policymakers.