Hiil launches groundbreaking guidelines to eesolve farmer-herder conflicts in Benue State

By James Ike

The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has unveiled a comprehensive set of guidelines designed to prevent and resolve long-standing farmer–herder conflicts in Benue State, aiming to promote peace and enhance access to justice at the grassroots level.

Speaking at the launch, HiiL’s Country Representative, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwafor, emphasized that the guidelines were developed through extensive research and wide consultations with key stakeholders in affected communities.

“We gathered here today to launch the guidelines for the prevention and resolution of land conflicts between farmers and herders in Benue State,” she said. “To develop these guidelines, we conducted desk research, field interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions to understand the realities on the ground and capture diverse perspectives.”

Nwafor explained that the process involved not only farmers and herders but also traditional rulers, civil society organizations, community members, and government officials. “It is a combination of field responses and desk research,” she added.

Highlighting HiiL’s impact so far, Nwafor revealed that the organization has trained 600 individuals across Guma, Agatu, and Gwer West Local Government Areas, the communities most affected by the conflict.

“We want this to be the start of a broader conversation,” she said. “If these 600 trained individuals share their knowledge with others in their communities, awareness will grow on how to prevent and resolve conflicts. That is how we create sustainable impact.”

She also noted that the guidelines extend beyond farmer–herder disputes and can be applied to other community conflicts, including financial disagreements and Gender-Based Violence, GBV.

Nwafor further highlighted the challenges of limited access to justice in Nigeria, revealing that roughly 140 million citizens lack meaningful legal redress. “In many rural areas, courts are absent, forcing people to rely on informal systems that sometimes demand payments like goats or chickens,” she said. “Even where courts exist, the legal process can be costly and inaccessible to ordinary citizens.”

In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of the Idoma Kingdom, the Och’Idoma, Dr. John Elaigwu Odogbo, represented by the First Class Chief of Enone, HRH Engr. George Ede, praised HiiL’s initiative, describing it as timely and necessary.

“This will go a long way in addressing farmer–herder conflicts in the state,” he said. “However, the major challenge confronting us is insecurity. Without peace, we cannot talk about justice.”

He assured that the traditional council would digest the guidelines and disseminate them for community implementation.

Representatives of the Benue State government also expressed support for the initiative. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Fidelis Unongo, represented by Dr. Charles Iornumbe, commended the project, expressing optimism that it would help tackle security challenges linked to the crisis.

Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Chief Joseph Har, acknowledged the ongoing threat posed by armed herders despite government efforts, noting that the guidelines would contribute to restoring peace.

The State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Ernest Atoji, called for collaboration among farmers and stressed the need to adopt ranching as a sustainable solution. “We are all farmers. To stop the crisis between crop and livestock farmers, we must embrace ranching and ensure peaceful coexistence for food security,” he said.

He stated that the launch represents a major step toward addressing one of Benue State’s most pressing challenges.

Stakeholders expressed hope that the guidelines would foster lasting peace, strengthen community-based conflict resolution, and create a model for addressing similar conflicts across Nigeria.