A human rights organisation, Lawyers Alert, has threatened to institute legal proceedings against the Federal Government over its reported plan to establish ranches in Benue State as part of efforts to address the protracted farmer-herder crisis.

The group said it was particularly concerned about the constitutional, land ownership, human rights, displacement and security implications of the proposed ranching programme, warning that any intervention that fails to take affected communities into account could deepen existing tensions.

In a statement by its Head of Legal Services, Bamidele Jacob, Lawyers Alert said the planned intervention must not be undertaken without adequate consultation with communities, including internally displaced persons and host communities.

The group noted that communities across Benue had, for years, endured killings, destruction of homes and farmlands, displacement, loss of livelihoods and disruption of social and economic activities arising from persistent insecurity and farmer-herder conflicts.

“Thousands of residents remain displaced, and many communities continue to face significant challenges in returning home and rebuilding their lives,” the organisation said.
Lawyers Alert warned that establishing ranches without first addressing the rights and concerns of affected populations could trigger fresh disputes over land.

“Against this background, Lawyers Alert is concerned that proceeding to establish ranches without first adequately addressing the rights and concerns of affected communities, including displaced persons and host communities, could create additional tensions over land and potentially deepen existing grievances,” it said.

The organisation, however, clarified that its objection was not to lawful livestock production, ranching or peaceful pastoralism, stressing that voluntary and legally compliant ranching could form part of a broader solution to Nigeria’s farmer-herder crisis.

Its concern, it said, was any attempt by the Federal Government to impose, establish, allocate or facilitate ranches in Benue without meaningful consultation, lawful land acquisition and respect for existing state legislation.

“Benue State already has legislation regulating open grazing and providing a framework for ranching.
“Any Federal Government intervention must therefore be consistent with the Constitution, applicable legislation and the principles of federalism and lawful governance,” the group said.

Lawyers Alert also questioned the constitutional and legal basis of the proposed Federal Government intervention, particularly whether adequate consultation had been undertaken with affected communities before the plan was conceived.

The group said its threatened litigation would seek more than a resolution of the concerns of an individual or community, describing the proposed court action as an opportunity to obtain authoritative judicial clarification on issues with wider implications for Benue and other conflict-affected parts of the country.

According to the organisation, the litigation would seek to promote a framework in which public policy, land administration, security interventions and agricultural development are anchored on constitutionalism, human rights, community participation and the rule of law.

Despite the threat of legal action, Lawyers Alert said it remained open to engagement with the government at all levels.

“We believe that litigation and dialogue can operate together in strengthening democratic accountability and ensuring that public policies respect the rights and legitimate interests of affected populations,” it said.