Nigeria Reports show that open grazing violence between herders and farmers has resulted in over 2,800 deaths in the past five years (2020–2024). This includes 2,349 fatalities from 359 incidents recorded by Nextier’s Violent Conflict Database, plus at least 451 deaths already recorded in early 2025. (Vanguard) Vanguard News

In 2024 alone, there were 61 deadly clashes resulting in 467 deaths. So far in 2025, violent incidents have claimed lives across several states 254 in Benue, 121 in Plateau, 20 in Nasarawa with additional casualties in Ondo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Edo, Taraba, Delta, and Imo. Vanguard News

These tragedies occur despite anti-open grazing laws enacted in 19 states, including all 17 southern states. Unfortunately, many of these laws remain poorly enforced, and violence continues unchecked. Vanguard News

The consequences go beyond loss of life. From 2019 to early 2025, an estimated 2.2 million people were displaced in Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa due to the herder-farmer crisis. Vanguard News As the violence spreads, security, agriculture, and community cohesion suffer across much of Nigeria.