The Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST) rejects the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching programme in Benue State, citing what it says are past attacks in the area. The church alleges that 5,987 of its members have been killed and that 753 worship centres were destroyed during attacks it attributes to armed herdsmen.
NKST says the government should prioritise the return and resettlement of displaced communities before considering ranching projects. Both outlets report the church’s position as a response to the ranching proposal and rely on NKST’s figures and attribution for the scale of the alleged violence. Neither source provides independent verification of the casualty or destruction counts, and both present the claims mainly through the church’s statements rather than through official investigations or separate corroborating evidence.
Overall, the coverage aligns on NKST’s rejection of the ranching plan and the specific allegations about killings and damaged worship centres, while focusing on the church’s argument that displacement and safety concerns should come first.
