Benue State socio-cultural leaders tell the Federal Government to first return internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities before any land is allocated for a proposed pilot ranching programme. They say displaced residents should be safely settled at home prior to discussions on ranch development.
The leaders’ position is communicated through statements by major Benue organisations, including Mzough U Tiv (MUT) and other groups representing different communities in the state. Both outlets describe the same core demand: prioritise IDP return and safety before allocating land for ranching. While the reports emphasise the conditional nature of the ranching plan—linking it to IDP reintegration—neither outlet presents competing factual claims about the programme’s details. Vanguard also includes an appeal for residents to remain calm and law-abiding while engagements with authorities continue, reflecting a focus on maintaining public order alongside the policy dispute.
