Benue Christian Group Rejects FG’s Pilot Ranching Policy, Demands Return of IDPs

The group urges the Federal Government to prioritise security, protect ancestral lands and ensure the safe resettlement of displaced residents.

A Christian organisation, the Ebenezer Christian Relief Initiative (ECRI), has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching policy in Benue State, calling instead for the protection of residents and the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.

The Chairman of ECRI, Rev. Dr Augustine Akpen Leva, stated this during an interaction with journalists in Makurdi, where he maintained that the organisation does not support the implementation of the proposed pilot ranching programme in the state.

Leva, a former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State chapter, argued that Benue already has a law prohibiting open grazing and providing for regulated livestock management.

He insisted that any livestock development initiative introduced by the Federal Government must respect existing state laws, the rights of landowners, the interests of farming communities and the security concerns of residents.

The cleric cautioned against imposing the ranching policy on the state without adequate consultation with the Benue State Government, traditional rulers, community leaders, farmers and other relevant stakeholders.

He clarified that the organisation was not opposed to lawful livestock development but stressed that the protection of human lives, property, farmlands and community rights must remain the government’s priority.

Leva recalled that Governor Hyacinth Alia had earlier rejected the proposed pilot ranching initiative during his thank-you tour of the state, reportedly declaring that there was no land available in Benue for the programme.

He urged the governor to remain firm in defending the legitimate interests of the people while pursuing lawful approaches to security, peace and development.

The ECRI chairman also expressed concern over persistent insecurity in Benue State, noting that attacks on communities had caused enormous economic losses and hardship.

According to him, many families have lost loved ones, farmlands and sources of livelihood, while several residents have been displaced from their ancestral communities and forced to live under difficult conditions.

The organisation further raised concerns over reported discrepancies between casualty figures released by security agencies and accounts provided by eyewitnesses and affected communities following attacks in the state.

It called for accurate, transparent and timely reporting of security incidents, stressing that credible information was essential to public confidence, accountability and the pursuit of justice.

Leva appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of lives and property, provide support for the resettlement of displaced persons and ensure that policies affecting Benue State were developed through lawful and inclusive consultations.

He also called for unity among traditional rulers, security agencies, community leaders, religious institutions and other stakeholders to address insecurity and protect communities against attacks and alleged attempts to take over ancestral lands.