By Peter Duru, Makurdi
MAKURDI — The three major socio-cultural organisations in Benue State have rejected the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching scheme in the state, insisting that the safe return and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons must come before any allocation of land for ranches.
The organisations — Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha k’Idoma (OKI) and Omi Ny’Igede (ONI) — said they were not opposed to modern ranching but insisted that the policy must be voluntary, community-driven and implemented without compromising the welfare of displaced farmers or 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 the 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 conflicts between farmers and herders and improve food security if properly implemented.
