Benue State Deputy Governor Sam Ode has clarified that the ongoing attacks in the state are not religious conflicts but calculated efforts by armed herdsmen to forcibly take over ancestral lands from indigenous communities under the pretext of open grazing.
Ode made this statement while receiving a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and United States congressional staff on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Makurdi.
"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," the Deputy Governor emphasized.
Ranching as the Modern Solution
Ode further stated that ranching represents the only viable and modern solution to the crisis, noting that it aligns with global standards and would restore peace in affected areas. He expressed the state government's commitment to working with federal authorities to ensure security for Benue residents.
"We are committed to working with the federal authorities to ensure peace and security for our people," he added.
The UNHCR and US delegation, led by Jessie Ainslie, a UNHCR official in the US, visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Makurdi International Market. Deputy Governor Ode acknowledged that the visit demonstrated the delegation's genuine concern and willingness to understand the true extent of the humanitarian crisis in the state.
During the visit, Ainslie conveyed condolences to the Benue State government on behalf of the delegation.
BenriNews reports that the continuous attacks on rural communities in Benue have resulted in numerous deaths and displacement of indigenous populations, creating a significant humanitarian challenge for the state.
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