By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Douglas Pepe has described the recent wave of herdsmen attacks and killings of innocent farmers in Kwande and other parts of Benue North‑East Senatorial District as “politically motivated.”
Speaking on Monday at his Makurdi office while hosting the Kwande Journalists Forum (KJF), Pepe, who has declared his intention to run for the Benue North‑East senatorial seat in 2027, said the solution to the crisis must also be political.
Pepe recalled that Fulani pastoralists and Tiv farmers have co‑existed for over 400 years, and disputes over crop destruction have always existed but were traditionally managed.
“What has changed with the return of democracy is the escalation of hostilities—deliberate killings, systematic destruction of farms to create perpetual hunger, and the sacking of communities from ancestral homes,” he said, alleging that some of the violence is driven by political interests.
As a seasoned lawyer, Pepe assured that, if given the mandate, he would deploy his legal expertise and political influence to halt the attacks.
He lamented the absence of federal presence in Zone A, citing poor road networks as evidence of previous representatives’ failure to engage federal agencies.
“At the Senate I will lobby colleagues and the Federal Government to rehabilitate the federal roads in the zone, which have been abandoned for two decades,” he added.
Pepe also advocated for the development of an international boundary road from Kwande’s Turan axis to Cameroon, adding that constructing a road from Jato‑Aka to Cameroon will open up the border, boost the economy, improve living conditions, and cut insecurity by about 85 percent.
He thanked the Kwande Journalists Forum for their solidarity visit, noting that the meeting reinforced unity and renewed his commitment to public service.
“With my knowledge of these issues, I know exactly what to do to stop herdsmen attacks, kidnapping and other criminal activities bedeviling development of the senatorial district “.Pepe assured.