• Alia appoints new commissioners

Amid the push for ranching as a solution to the recurring clashes between farmers and herders, among others, the Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association, Rev. Fr. Joseph Beeba, has challenged the Nigerian Government to establish its proposed cattle ranches in the vast Sambisa Forest rather than on the farmlands occupied by communities producing food.

Beeba said that while ranching was a welcome idea, the government must first restore the lands and communities displaced by insecurity before asking residents to accept ranching projects.

In the same vein, the Benue State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has faulted the proposed pilot ranch in the state, urging the state government to reject it outright, as the land was already grossly inadequate for residents’ rising population of crop farmers.

The Acting Chairman of CAN, Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, spoke on Monday in Màkurdi during an award ceremony by the Legislative Writers, National Assembly, Abuja, stating that the Church in Benue does not accept pilot ranching and that the state government should not even contemplate giving out land for the scheme.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has submitted names of six commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly for confirmation to fill the existing vacancies.

Speaker Alfred Emberga, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Michael Zape, listed the nominees as Solomon Iorpev, Kuma Aii Yenge, Roy Ashirga, Angwa Monday, Elizabeth Ogenyi and Nick Eworo.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV News, the Catholic cleric noted that communities had historically coexisted with livestock without major problems until the expansion of activities that displaced people from their ancestral homes.

He argued that organised ranching could work, especially if established in areas where livestock activities were more appropriate, rather than in predominantly agrarian communities.

“All we are saying is, ranching is very good, but take these ranches to where they are needed most.”

We are an agrarian community, agrarian state. We are not a pastoral livestock, or engaged in livestock that much,” Beeba explained.

He further challenged the Nigerian Government to consider Sambisa Forest for the establishment of ranches, saying the vast forest offers enough space for such projects.

According to him, “the federal government can do that, and even much more. This government seems not to be taking advice, but I would just say for posterity’s sake, take these ranches to Sambisa Forest.

“Sambisa Forest is as big as any land at all. In fact, it is as big as Lagos State. Take these ranches there.”

Meanwhile, Beeba urged the federal government to rather address the immediate needs of the communities affected by insecurity before introducing policies involving ranching, stating that the displaced residents primarily needed security, food and the restoration of their homes.

He added that if the federal government is sincere, it should restore the villages, churches and health facilities destroyed or abandoned as a result of insecurity before proposing ranching.

His views aligned with those of the state’s CAN Chairman, Ugbede, who emphasised that the foremost desire of the Benue people is for their kith and kin displaced by armed herdsmen and currently in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the state to return to their ancestral lands.

Ugbede, however, lauded the decision of President Bola Tinubu to establish the 5 Division of the Nigerian Army in the state, saying the initiative could curtail the perennial insecurity and pave the way for peace and development in the state.