{
  "id": 2516360,
  "title": "Return our IDPs home before allocating land for ranching – Benue leaders tell FG",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/return-our-idps-home-before-allocating-land-for-ranching-benue",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T06:29:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/22/return-our-idps-home-before-allocating-land-for-ranching-benue-leaders-tell-fg/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three prominent socio-cultural groups in Benue State have raised objections to the Federal Government's proposed pilot ranching programme in the region. The Presidents-General of Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha k’Idoma (OKI), and Omi Ny’Igede (ONI) addressed a press conference, expressing their concerns. Air Commodore Titus Agbecha, the President General of MUT Worldwide and Chairman of the Benue Socio-Cultural Organisations, stated that the groups received the ranching initiative with \"mixed feelings.\" While acknowledging the potential benefits of modern ranching for reducing farmer-herder conflicts and enhancing food security, Agbecha emphasized that the programme should not be imposed on communities or executed at the expense of displaced residents. Benue currently hosts over 500,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps, many of whom lack basic amenities and livelihoods. Agbecha argued that allocating land for ranches before returning these residents to their ancestral homes would be unfair and unjust. He also highlighted instances of prolonged violence and displacement in certain communities, warning that establishing ranches in such environments could be viewed as rewarding such wrongdoing. The retired Air Commodore called for inclusive dialogue, the restoration of affected communities, and justice for victims before the government proceeds with the ranching initiative. The organizations expressed concerns that extensive land acquisition for ranches could adversely impact agricultural production in Benue, a state known for being a significant food producer in Nigeria. They appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize the safe return and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, asserting that \"peace must precede policy.\" The groups also demanded meaningful consultations with host communities, their consent, and appropriate compensation before implementing any ranching projects. Agbecha reiterated that while the organizations are not opposed to modern ranching, it must be voluntary, community-led, and should not compromise food production. He urged Benue residents to maintain peace and lawfulness, assuring them that the socio-cultural organisations would persist in discussions with relevant authorities to find a sustainable solution. \"Benue is the food basket of the nation. For Nigeria to be food secure, Benue farmers must first be secure on their land,\" Agbecha concluded.",
  "summary": "The three major socio-cultural organisations in Benue State have opposed the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching programme in the state, arguing that displaced residents must first be safely returned to their ancestral communities before land is considered for ranch development. The position was made known by the Presidents-General of Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha k’Idoma […] Return our…",
  "key_points": [
    "Benue leaders protest federal ranching plan, citing IDP concerns",
    "Over 500,000 IDPs in camps, lacking basic amenities",
    "Prioritize IDP return and resettlement before land allocation"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Benue leaders' insistence that IDPs be returned home before land allocation for ranching shifts the government's priorities from economic development to addressing humanitarian needs and restoring community stability.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}