According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Fulani militia-related violence has been escalating since 2015, with the central states of Nigeria - and particularly Adamawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and southern Kaduna - experiencing cyclical violence.
Fr Ralph Madu of the Secretariat of the Bishops' Conference called for a peaceful demonstration after two Catholic priests were killed during morning Mass in April.
They were around 30 militia men on St Ignatius' Catholic Church in the St. Ignatius Quasi Parish of Makurdi Diocese. The attack also claimed the lives of 17 parishioners and left an unknown number of people injured.
Rev Fr Remigius Ihula from the Markurdi Diocese in Benue state told Premier the killings equate to genocide.
"What has taken place here is at the scale that took place in Rwanda. It has been sustained, it has been it has been well planned and consistent," he said.
"The attackers come with AK-47 rifles and there at times they're camouflaged in military fatigue. Sadly, the authorities have not done anything. "
Attacks on villages in Benue intensified following the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law in November 2017, which bans herders from grazing their cattle on land belonging to local farmers, restricting them to ranches.
In January 2018, 73 villagers were killed in militia attacks on the Guma and Logo areas of the state.
Fr Ihula told Premier the herdsmen' reasons for violence are unwarranted.
"If it is economic. we can sit down and talk. If you want foliage for your flock, you don't have to kill people, you don't have to kill infants, you don't have to burn down schools, you don't have to burn down churches, you don't have to put other people away from their homes," he said.
"Some people have not gone to their farms or homes for years; they're in IDP (internally displaced people) camps and in deplorable conditions. If you go to these IDP camps you will weep, you will not believe they're human beings. Why should others treat people this way?"
He added that many Christians believe the herdsmen are Islamic terrorists and want territory.
"They want to proclaim everybody Islamic. If it's that it's difficult to say it will stop. "
Fr Ihula argued that police and government authorities have done very little to help, and he hopes the crisis will get the international attention it needs to bring about change.
Listen to Fr. Ihula speaking with Premier's John Pantry and Rosie Wright.
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