The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, has said the state government’s attempt to introduce ranching has resulted in displaced residents living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Shija said over 900,000 residents were currently living in IDP camps, adding that farmers had been unable to return to their farmlands.
“As it is now, this state is in a state of disrepair. The state is no longer in the hands of the owners of the states. Most of over 900,000 people are living in IDP camps. You should know that Benue state is an agrarian state.
“70% of the people of Benue are farmers. They can’t farm. Their land has been taken over by invaders.
“Herdsmen have taken over Benue land. And these people are living in IDP camps. Now the government has intended to introduce ranching. They have ended up ranching human beings. Human beings are now in IDP camps. And they are at the mercy of people in government.”
Shija said the situation had prevented displaced farmers from returning to their normal lives, stressing that his priority would be to return them to their land and enable them to resume farming.
“First of all, I have to rescue them from this situation. They have to go back to their land. They have to resume their farming. They have to resume their normal life.
“We can’t continue normalising what is happening. And once you rescue them, then you set a programme for restructuring. You make sure that Benue is reset afresh.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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