The Benue State Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, has revealed the main reason behind the persisting insecurity in the State of late.
Ode dismissed the attacks as religious conflict, rather a calculated effort by armed herdsmen to seize ancestral lands from indigenous communities under the guise of open grazing.
The Deputy Governor made this disclosure when he received a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and the United States congressional staff on behalf of the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
The groups were in the State for a courtesy visit to the Government House in Makurdi, the State capital.
Addressing the delegation, Ode noted that the continuous attacks on rural communities are aimed at forcefully displacing the native population. In order to pave the way for uncontrolled grazing, a practice he described as outdated and unsustainable.
He said, “These conflicts are not religious.They are deliberate attempts to sack indigenes from their lands. The pressure on land, coupled with archaic grazing methods, is at the heart of this crisis.”
Going forward, the Deputy Governor stated that ranching is the only viable and modern solution to the conflicts. He noted that it aligns with global standards and would restore peace and order in affected areas.
“We are committed to working with the federal authorities to ensure peace and security for our people,” Ode added.
The UNHCR and US delegation visited the Internally Displaced Person, IDP, camp at the Makurdi International Market.
Appreciating the groups visit to the State, Ode thanked them for the visit. This is as he stated that it showed a clear demonstration of the delegation’s genuine concern. And a willingness to understand the true picture of the humanitarian crisis in the State.
A UNHCR official in the US, Jessie Ainslie, who led the delegation, conveyed condolences to the Benue State Government over the recent killings.