Benue Deputy Governor Insists Attacks Are Land-Grabbing Plot, Not Religious Conflict

Benue State’s Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, has firmly dismissed claims that the persistent attacks ravaging communities in the state are rooted in religious differences. Speaking on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia, Ode clarified that the violence is a well-planned effort orchestrated by armed herdsmen, designed to take over ancestral lands belonging to indigenous people under the misleading cover of open grazing practices.

He made these remarks while hosting a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), accompanied by staff from the United States Congress, during their courtesy visit to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, the state capital.

In his explanation, Deputy Governor Ode asserted that the recurring violence targeting rural communities has a strategic motive: the forceful displacement of native inhabitants to enable unrestricted grazing activities. He argued that such grazing patterns are outdated and no longer sustainable in a modern society.

“These clashes are not about religion,” Ode emphasized. “They are carefully planned efforts to uproot indigenous residents from their traditional lands. The ongoing land pressure, combined with backward grazing techniques, lies at the very core of this crisis,” he explained.

Furthermore, Ode maintained that ranching remains the only modern, workable, and globally accepted approach to addressing these clashes. He pointed out that ranching would help resolve disputes and foster peace and stability across the affected communities.

“Our administration is strongly dedicated to partnering with federal agencies to secure peace and guarantee the safety of our people,” Ode added, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

Meanwhile, LMSINT MEDIA reports that the joint delegation from the UNHCR and the United States Congress paid a humanitarian visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located at the Makurdi International Market.

The Deputy Governor commended the delegation, describing their visit as a sincere display of compassion and a genuine willingness to grasp the true scale and severity of the humanitarian situation in Benue State.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Jessie Ainslie, an official with the UNHCR in the United States, extended heartfelt condolences to the Benue State government over the tragic loss of lives and the worsening displacement crisis in the area.