The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, has refuted claims that the ongoing attacks in the state are rooted in religious conflict. Instead, he described the violence as a calculated effort 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 the United States congressional staff at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital. The visit was part of a courtesy call on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Ode emphasised that the persistent attacks on rural communities are designed to displace native populations violently, thereby creating space for uncontrolled grazing, a practice he condemned as outdated and unsustainable.
He stressed that the crisis is not driven by religious differences but by a deliberate strategy to dispossess indigenous people of their lands. “These conflicts are not religious. They are deliberate attempts to displace indigenes from their lands. The pressure on land, coupled with archaic grazing methods, is at the heart of this crisis,” he explained.
The Deputy Governor further advocated for ranching as the only viable and modern solution to the religious conflict. He noted that ranching aligns with global best practices and would help restore peace and stability in the affected areas. “We are committed to working with federal authorities to ensure peace and security for our people,” he added.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
