Residents of Benue State are shifting from cow beef meat in favour of pork to protest the killings of people by Fulani herdsmen.
This change has reportedly caused a surge in pork demand, driving prices beyond the reach of many.
An average pig that previously sold for N10,000 now costs as much as N35,000, forcing some to seek alternative protein sources.
Investigations link this trend to persistent attacks and killings in rural communities by armed herdsmen. Many locals see avoiding beef as a form of protest, refusing to buy meat from cattle grazed on lands violently seized from farmers.
According to a prominent pork butcher, Mr. Jonathan Aer, the influx of customers has been overwhelming, with rising prices acting as the only check on demand.
He noted that the switch to pork began intensifying a few years ago when herdsmen attacks worsened, prompting many who had never eaten pork to embrace it wholeheartedly.
Aer stressed that this boycott stems from principle: “You cannot kill innocent farmers, graze cattle on their lands, sell the beef back to them, and expect continued patronage.”
He added that limited pig supply has further escalated prices.
Restaurant owners are also feeling the impact. Madam Ngunna Igbaar, a major eatery operator in Makurdi, lamented that pork, once the poor man’s affordable delicacy, is now becoming a luxury.
Previously sold in portions of N100 or N200, pork is now offered at N500 or N1,000 due to higher wholesale costs.
She observed that the shift in perception is remarkable, people who once dismissed pork as “dirty meat” now eat it proudly, motivated by a desire to boycott beef.
Some customers have vowed never to eat beef again, believing that buying it supports those attacking their communities.
This sentiment is spreading, with locals actively encouraging others to join the boycott.
While the protest has gained popularity, its unintended effect is making pork unaffordable for ordinary people.
Madam Igbaar appealed to pork sellers to consider the plight of the poor, warning that prices above N35,000 per pig are unsustainable. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that “No to beef” might soon become a dominant slogan in Benue, reflecting a powerful mix of cultural resistance and economic consequence.
