Benue State is named after the Benue River and was formed from the former Benue-Plateau State in 1976, along with Igala and some part of Kwara State.
O nome de Benue provén do río do mesmo nome, e formouse a partir do antigo ex-estado Benue-Plateau en 1976, xunto co grupo étnico igala, que formaba parte do estado de Kwara.