Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in the 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers State to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma, and Igede. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo, Jukun peoples etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; common crops include oranges, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, groundnuts, and palm trees.

Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is the major tributary of the Niger River. Almost its entire length of approximately 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) is navigable during the summer months. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km2 (123,000 sq mi). As a result, it is an important transportation route in the regions through which it flows. The name Benue comes from Binuwe meaning 'Mother of Waters’ in the Batta language.