Benue Christian group rejects federal pilot ranching, wants IDPs resettled

A Christian group in Benue State has rejected the Federal Government's proposed pilot ranching programme, saying the state has no land to spare for it. The Ebenezer Christian Relief Initiative (ECRI) made its position known at a press briefing in Makurdi on Saturday.

The group's chairman, Rev. Dr Augustine Leva, a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benue, said the priority should instead be returning people displaced by insecurity to their ancestral homes.

"We do not have land in Benue to give for ranching," Leva said, according to Vanguard and Independent, which both reported the briefing.

Why it matters

Benue is one of Nigeria's biggest farming states, and clashes over land and grazing have forced thousands of families off their farms and into camps. For ordinary residents, the debate is not abstract: it is about whether they can go back to their land, plant, and feed their families.

Leva argued that Benue already has a law banning open grazing and regulating livestock, and that any federal policy must respect that law and the rights of landowners and farmers. He said ranching and other livestock plans should not be imposed without genuine talks with the state government, traditional rulers, community leaders and farmers.

He noted that Governor Hyacinth Alia had already rejected the pilot ranching plan, saying during his thank-you tour of the state that there was no land for it. Leva urged the governor to stay firm in defending the interests of Benue people.

The group said it is not against lawful livestock development, but insisted that protecting lives, farmland and communities must come first.

Displaced families and casualty figures

ECRI said insecurity has cost many families loved ones, farmlands and their means of living, leaving them in deplorable conditions in camps and host communities.

It also raised concern about differences between casualty figures released by security agencies and accounts from eyewitnesses and affected communities after attacks in the state. The group called for accurate, transparent and timely figures, saying this builds public confidence and supports the pursuit of justice.

Leva asked traditional rulers, security agencies, community leaders and the church to unite against those attacking communities, and urged the Federal Government to step up protection of lives and property.

What happens next

Both the state government and ECRI now publicly oppose the pilot ranching plan, so the Federal Government will need to address Benue's position before any implementation. The group's call to resettle displaced people adds pressure on authorities to act on the camps.