Benue Christian group rejects federal pilot ranching, wants IDPs resettled

A Christian group for Benue State don reject di Federal Government proposed pilot ranching programme, dey talk say di state no get land to spare for am. Di Ebenezer Christian Relief Initiative (ECRI) make dia position known for press briefing for Makurdi on Saturday.

Di group chairman, Rev. Dr Augustine Leva, wey be former chairman of di Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Benue, talk say di priority suppose be to return pipo wey insecurity displace to dia ancestral homes.

"We no get land for Benue to give for ranching," Leva talk, according to Vanguard and Independent, wey both report di briefing.

Why e matter

Benue na one of Nigeria biggest farming states, and clashes over land and grazing don force thousands of families comot from dia farms enter camps. For ordinary residents, di debate no be abstract: e concern whether dem go fit go back to dia land, plant, and feed dia families.

Leva argue say Benue already get law wey ban open grazing and regulate livestock, and say any federal policy must respect dat law and di rights of landowners and farmers. He talk say ranching and oda livestock plans no suppose dey imposed without genuine talks with di state government, traditional rulers, community leaders and farmers.

He note say Governor Hyacinth Alia don already reject di pilot ranching plan, when he talk during him thank-you tour of di state say no land for am. Leva urge di governor to stand firm in defending di interests of Benue pipo.

Di group talk say dem no dey against lawful livestock development, but insist say protecting lives, farmland and communities must come first.

Displaced families and casualty figures

ECRI talk say insecurity don cost many families loved ones, farmlands and dia means of living, leaving dem for deplorable conditions for camps and host communities.

E also raise concern about differences between casualty figures wey security agencies release and accounts from eyewitnesses and affected communities after attacks for di state. Di group call for accurate, transparent and timely figures, dey talk say dis dey build public confidence and support di pursuit of justice.

Leva ask traditional rulers, security agencies, community leaders and di church to unite against those wey dey attack communities, and urge di Federal Government to step up protection of lives and property.

What happen next

Both di state government and ECRI now publicly oppose di pilot ranching plan, so di Federal Government go need to address Benue position before any implementation. Di group call to resettle displaced pipo add pressure on authorities to act on di camps.