Maureen Okpe
The Benue State Government has declared that violent attacks and displacement of communities within the state are not rooted in religion but are part of a deliberate strategy by armed herdsmen to seize ancestral lands under the guise of open grazing.
This position was communicated by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr. Sam Ode, who received a high-powered delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and eight senior United States Congressional staffers on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Makurdi.
In a statement on Thursday, made available to Global Sentinel by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Government, Tersoo Kula, the delegation, currently on a fact-finding mission in Nigeria, visited Benue as part of their assessment of the humanitarian situation and U.S. aid efforts in the country.
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Dr. Ode, representing Governor Hyacinth Alia, emphasized that the escalating violence is not religious or ethnic in nature, but a calculated attempt to forcibly displace indigenous populations from their ancestral lands to create access for nomadic herders.
“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 stated.
He condemned the outdated practice of open grazing, insisting that ranching remains the only modern and sustainable alternative in line with global best practices. According to him, the Benue State Government fully supports the Federal Government’s directive to clamp down on all criminal elements fueling insecurity, regardless of their ethnic or political affiliations.
“We are committed to working with the federal authorities to ensure peace and security for our people,” Dr. Ode added.
The Deputy Governor further commended the UNHCR and U.S. Congressional team for visiting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Makurdi International Market, describing it as a demonstration of genuine concern for the plight of displaced persons. He affirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and collaboration with humanitarian partners.
“Our books are open. We are ready to collaborate with humanitarian partners to ensure accuracy in data and effectiveness in response. We believe in international best practices,” he said.
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Leading the delegation, Ms. Jessie Ainslie of UNHCR Washington D.C. expressed heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Benue State over the recent wave of killings and displacement. She disclosed that the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation.
“Our hearts break for you,” Ainslie said. “News of the attacks has reached Washington, and Americans are following developments here closely.”
Ms. Ainslie commended the state government’s support for displaced populations, citing agricultural initiatives that have helped IDPs regain their livelihoods.
“This shows the resilience of communities when given a chance to rebuild,” she noted.
The delegation is scheduled to visit Tartyo in Guma Local Government Area, where they will meet with community members involved in local peacebuilding and reintegration programs aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable recovery for victims of violence.