In a rare and forceful statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed the ongoing violence between herders and farmers in parts of Nigeria, declaring that “human life is greater than that of a cow.”
The president made the remark during a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, signaling what many see as a shift in tone from the nation’s highest office on the issue that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced entire communities across the Middle Belt and other regions.
“Let it be clear,” Tinubu stated. “The life of one Nigerian is worth more than any number of livestock. We must protect human dignity and stop these killings.”
Tinubu’s comment comes amid fresh attacks in Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa States, where renewed herder-farmer clashes have left scores dead, villages razed, and tension mounting among ethnic and religious communities.
The president’s statement was widely interpreted as a direct rebuke to years of perceived federal inaction or leniency toward violent herders, many of whom have been accused of carrying out coordinated attacks on farming communities.
While many Nigerians welcomed the president’s remarks as long overdue, others questioned whether rhetoric would be matched by decisive policy actions.
“We’ve heard this before,” said civil society leader Ayo Bello. “What we need now is federal enforcement, arrests, justice not just statements.”
“Finally, the president acknowledges the obvious,” tweeted one user. “People are not disposable. Thank you, Mr. President. Now act on it.”
On the other hand, some herders’ associations urged caution, arguing that the message should not be used to stigmatize an entire group for the actions of a few.
The herder-farmer conflict often fueled by disputes over grazing land, climate-induced migration, and ethnic tensions has become one of Nigeria’s most pressing security crises. Analysts warn that unless addressed through both military containment and long-term policy reform, it risks further destabilizing rural economies and national unity.
In previous administrations, calls to designate violent herdsmen as terrorists were either downplayed or met with political resistance.
With this statement, President Tinubu may be signaling greater political will to confront the root causes of the violence, including unregulated pastoralism, arms trafficking, and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Sources inside the presidency say a new security strategy focused on community policing, rural surveillance, and early warning systems is being drafted and may be unveiled in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, advocacy groups are calling for the government to back its words with swift justice for victims and protective measures for communities at risk.
For millions affected by the carnage, President Tinubu’s message is a welcome acknowledgment but one that now demands concrete action to match the weight of its truth.
