Benue State, Nigeria’s acclaimed Food Basket of the Nation, is bracing for yet another humanitarian crisis as deadly floods are forecasted to sweep through the state in the coming months — compounding the already dire situation of insecurity and violent attacks across rural communities.
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has listed Benue among the states expected to experience severe flooding this year. According to the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, over 1,249 communities in 176 local government areas across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory are at high risk, with Benue prominently featured.
For residents of Makurdi and other riverine areas, the news brings back painful memories of past flood disasters — particularly the devastating floods of 2012 and 2017, which displaced over 200,000 people combined and left homes, farmlands, schools, and roads submerged.
This year, the threat is compounded by ongoing security concerns, as large swaths of rural Benue have suffered relentless attacks by suspected armed herdsmen and bandits, leaving many communities displaced and vulnerable.
The recurring floods are attributed to a combination of factors: the overflow of River Benue, periodic release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, poor drainage systems, blocked waterways, and the accelerating impact of climate change.
In response, Governor Hyacinth Alia has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to be on high alert, while temporary shelters and public sensitization campaigns are being rolled out across the 23 local government areas.
“The threat of flooding is real and intensifying due to climate change. We are implementing early warning systems and working closely with NIHSA to ensure real-time alerts reach communities at risk,” said the Benue State Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change.
He added that vulnerability assessments and community-based flood risk maps are being developed with support from national and international partners, and that efforts to clear drainage channels are underway.
Despite these assurances, many residents remain fearful. For them, the looming floods only deepen the desperation already brought on by violent insecurity.
“Every year they warn us to move, but where do we go? We lose everything to floods and face killings if we run to other places,” said Mrs. Eunice Akpa, a resident of North Bank in Makurdi.
In Agatu, where recent attacks have claimed lives and displaced thousands, local farmer Mrs. Ichalefu Oyiwodu lamented, “Our farms are threatened by floods, and our lives are threatened by bullets. We are caught in the middle, and government must act now, not later.”
Community leaders, including Elder Godwin Abuul from Logo LGA, echoed similar fears. “We’ve lost people to both flood and conflict. Government should open IDP camps now, not after disaster strikes. Our children and elderly can’t afford to wait.”
The dual crises of flood and violence pose an extraordinary challenge to the Alia-led administration, which is under pressure to not only respond swiftly but to also ensure that vulnerable communities are protected from further suffering.
As the rains begin to fall and the rivers swell, thousands of families across Benue wait with bated breath — hoping that, this time, the warnings will be met with action and not just promises.
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