Human rights organisation, Lawyers Alert, has joined in the campaign against the federal government’s planned cattle ranches in Benue State as part of efforts to end the protracted farmer-herder crisis in the state, threatening legal action against the move.

Citing the constitutional, land ownership, human rights, displacement and security implications of the proposed ranching programme, the group warned that any intervention that does not take the affected communities into account could deepen the existing tensions.

In a statement by its Head of Legal Services, Bamidele Jacob, Lawyers Alert said that litigation would seek more than a resolution of the concerns of an individual or community by obtaining authoritative judicial clarification on issues with wider implications for Benue and other conflict-affected parts of the country.

According to Lawyers Alert, voluntary and legally compliant ranching, rather than an imposition or allocation without meaningful consultation, lawful land acquisition and respect for existing state legislation, could form part of a broader solution to Nigeria’s farmer-herder crisis.

The group stated that thousands of residents remain displaced, and many communities are still facing challenges returning home and rebuilding their lives, warning that establishing ranches without first addressing the rights and concerns of the affected populations could trigger fresh disputes over land.