The urgent need for the Presidency to outrightly announce the cancellation of its plans to impose grazing reserves on Nigerians and adopt a national ranching policy has been advanced.
Benue women under the auspices of Concerned Mothers who made the call in Makurdi, the state capital, accused the presidency of sponsoring what they termed as a hidden agenda.
The pressure group demanded amongst others that the Federal Government throws its weight behind Southern Governors’ Asaba declaration against open grazing.
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It called on the international community and lovers of peace across the world to show interest in what is happening in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt region where killings of innocent people by herders have become a common sight.
“Benue for instance, is the food basket of Nigeria and for many years, farmers have been displaced from their ancestral lands. The ugly scenario has resulted to food crises and is set to take a more dangerous dimension if not stopped now.
“We expect the Federal Government to fulfill its promise to assist the Benue State government in resettling the displaced people back to their homes. The longer the IDPs stay in the camps, the worse their plight will get,” the Concerned Mothers added.
Recent statistics released by the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, revealed that a steady increase in the number of displaced persons as a result of herder attacks is a worrisome situation the mothers insisted is totally unacceptable.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
