Return our IDPs to their homes before ranching, Benue leaders tell FG

File: Governor Mutfwang in an armoured vehicle during a condolence visit.

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The three major socio-cultural organisations in Benue State have kicked against the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching scheme in Benue, state, insisting that the safe return and resettlement of displaced persons in the state must precede any land allocation for ranches.

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The leaders, who are the Presidents General of the Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha k’Idoma, OKI and Omi Ny’Igede, ONI, said while they were not opposed to modern ranching, the policy must not be imposed on communities or implemented at the expense of displaced farmers and food production.

President General of MUT Worldwide and Chairman of the Benue Socio-Cultural Organisations, Air Commodore Titus Agbecha (retd), stated this at a press conference attended by President General of Ochetoha k’Idoma, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, and President General of Omi Ny’Igede, Daniel Omeno.

Agbecha said the organisations received the Federal Government’s ranching proposal with “mixed feelings,” noting that ranching could help reduce herders’ incursions and improve food security if properly implemented.

He however, said the peculiar security and humanitarian situation in Benue made it inappropriate to embark on large-scale land allocation for ranches before displaced communities were returned to their ancestral homes.

According to him, “We currently have over 500,000 Benue people living in Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, Camps across Benue state. They have no home to return to, no shelter, no farms and no livelihood.”

He described it as unjust to discuss new land use for ranches when “the owners of the land are still refugees in their own state.”

The retired Air Commodore also alleged that several Benue communities had remained under siege for more than five years, with villages attacked and residents killed or displaced.

“Establishing ranches under this atmosphere will be seen as rewarding violence and dispossession,” he warned, calling for comprehensive mediation, restoration of occupied communities and justice for victims before the scheme is introduced.

The socio-cultural organisations further cautioned that large-scale land acquisition could threaten food production in Benue, which remains one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states.

“Benue remains the food basket of the nation. Any programme that involves large-scale land acquisition must not undermine food production,” Agbecha said.

The groups consequently urged the Federal Government to make the safe return and resettlement of all Internally Displaced Persons a priority, insisting that “peace must precede policy.”

They also demanded genuine consultation, consent and compensation for host communities before any ranching project is undertaken.

“We are not against modern ranching, but it must be voluntary, community-driven and must not displace food production,” Agbecha said.

He appealed to Benue residents to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring that the socio-cultural organisations would continue to engage relevant authorities through dialogue.

“Benue is the food basket of the nation. For Nigeria to be food secure, Benue farmers must first be secure on their land,” he added.