The streets of Makurdi and other towns in Benue State have once again become the backdrop of grief, outrage, and urgent demands for justice. In recent weeks, thousands of young people—students, civil society groups, farmers, and clergy—have taken to the streets to protest the relentless killings ravaging communities across Benue. The placards are simple, yet harrowing: “Stop the bloodshed!” “We are not statistics!” “Our lives matter!”
This is not the first time Benue’s soil has been soaked with the blood of innocents. The state, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has endured repeated waves of violence—ranging from farmer-herder clashes, to bandit attacks, to communal unrest. But this time, the youth are not only demanding justice—they are demanding innovation.
Their cry is no longer just for security. It’s for systemic reform. And for the first time, a new conversation is emerging alongside the chants: Can artificial intelligence (AI) help prevent these killings?
The Crisis: A People Under Siege
Since early 2024, attacks in Benue have escalated, leaving hundreds dead, thousands displaced, and entire communities in ruins. Villages such as Mbaikyor, Guma, and Logo have been struck repeatedly, often at night, and often without warning.
Survivors describe patterns: attackers appearing out of nowhere, the military arriving late or not at all, and local governments overwhelmed by the sheer frequency and scale of the violence. Beyond the human toll, the economic devastation is immense—farmlands abandoned, markets deserted, and food production halted in one of Nigeria’s most agriculturally significant states.
Amid these waves of terror, the people of Benue are not just mourning—they are resisting. The current protests are led by a coalition of students, tech workers, religious leaders, and farmers. Their message is clear: the traditional security responses have failed. A new approach is needed—one that anticipates violence, not just responds to it.
Can AI Help Stop the Killings?
Artificial intelligence is not a silver bullet. But in many parts of the world—from Colombia to Rwanda to Kenya—AI and data-driven tools are beginning to play an important role in conflict prevention and crisis response. Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest economy, has lagged behind in deploying such technologies for peacebuilding. The situation in Benue may finally force a reckoning.
Here’s how AI could be part of the solution:
- Predictive Analytics for Conflict Hotspots
By analysing historical data on attacks—dates, locations, timing, perpetrators, and victims—AI models can identify patterns that human analysts might miss. These predictive systems can flag potential hotspots, allowing security agencies to pre-position resources, engage community leaders, and reinforce vulnerable areas before violence erupts.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Early Warning
AI-powered NLP tools can scan local news, social media posts, WhatsApp messages, and radio broadcasts to detect rising tensions. Hate speech, incitement, or sudden spikes in online panic can serve as early warning indicators. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook have been used this way in Kenya during election seasons—and similar models could be adapted for Nigeria’s conflict zones.
- Drone and Satellite Surveillance
AI-enhanced drones and satellite imagery can monitor remote rural areas where attacks often happen undetected. Image recognition software can flag unusual movements (such as armed groups assembling), burned structures, or large gatherings. This could dramatically reduce response times—and provide evidence for accountability.
- AI for Displacement Tracking
With thousands fleeing violence in Benue, AI can help humanitarian organisations predict displacement flows, identify safe routes, and allocate resources more effectively. AI-driven mapping tools could support the Nigerian government and international agencies in delivering food, shelter, and medical care to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
- Digital Peacebuilding Platforms
AI can also support peacebuilding efforts. Apps powered by AI could match victims with legal aid, allow anonymous reporting of threats, and connect youth leaders across communities to work on early response strategies. Machine learning could help evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and improve peace efforts over time.
What’s Holding Us Back?
Despite the promise of AI, implementation in Nigeria faces major hurdles:
Data Gaps: Conflict-related data in Nigeria is often incomplete, outdated, or politicised. Without clean, verified data, AI systems can’t function effectively.
Lack of Political Will: Technology alone can’t fix violence. The will to invest in peace-tech—and to act on its insights—must come from the highest levels of leadership.
Digital Inequality: Rural areas most affected by the violence have the least access to digital tools. Any AI solution must prioritise equity and local accessibility.
Ethical Concerns: AI must not be used to spy on citizens, target ethnic groups, or suppress protest. Transparency, community engagement, and ethical frameworks must guide its use.
The Youth Are Leading the Way
What’s remarkable about the protests in Benue is that the demand for AI is coming not from tech firms—but from the youth themselves. Young people are saying: We know the tech exists. Why are we still dying in silence?
At a protest in Makurdi last week, 23-year-old tech graduate Ifeoma Orngu carried a banner that read: “I can build an app to track attacks. Will you fund it?”
Another protester, a young woman named Maria Adzuana, said: “We want to work with the government—not against it. But they must listen to us. We are tired of burying our brothers and mothers.”
The momentum is building. Startups in Abuja and Lagos are offering to donate their expertise. Universities are forming conflict innovation labs. And a handful of state lawmakers have begun advocating for the integration of technology into security and peacebuilding policies.
A Turning Point for Benue—and Nigeria
The killings in Benue are not just a security issue. They are a national tragedy. But the growing protest movement and the call for AI-based solutions offer a path forward that centres innovation, youth leadership, and urgency.
This is not just about preventing the next attack. It’s about rebuilding trust, reimagining governance, and making it clear that every Nigerian life—no matter how rural, how poor, or how politically inconvenient—matters.
Artificial intelligence will not fix Benue overnight. But with the right vision, partnerships, and policies, it could help Nigeria break the cycle of violence—and build a future where no mother wakes up to another burning village.
✔️For once, let the technology serve the people.
✔️For once, let the data speak before the guns do.
✔️For once, let us listen to the youth—not after the protest, but before the next tragedy.
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