Benue groups vow to resist FG plan to reopen grazing routes

The three major tribal groups in Benue State, the Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha K’Idoma (OKI), and Omi Ny’Igede (ONI) have vowed to resist plans by the Federal Government to reopen cattle routes across the country that have ceased to be operational.

The groups were reacting to a statement by the Presidency that it plans to reopen the grazing routes for grazing purposes.

Leaders of the three groups, President General, MUT, Edward Ujeje, and his counterparts in the ONI, Amali Adoya Amali and OKI, Ben Okpa, who jointly addressed the media in Makurdi on Thursday stressed that the decision did not go down well with the people of the state.

The leaders of the socio-cultural organisations, said that in view of population explosion, reintroduction of cattle routes in the country was no longer feasible.

They noted that the plan to reopen the routes was a complete contradiction of the Federal Government’s economic diversification and agricultural production policy.

The leaders asked, “Why is it difficult to accept the fact that Nigeria needs to adopt modern method of animal husbandry, which is ranching as being championed by Benue State?

“It was the search for a lasting solution to the herdsmen crisis in Benue that brought about the ranching law, which is a child of necessity after a longtime research.

“If the Federal Government is sincere about the claimed diversification of the economy through agriculture and plans to encourage commercial farming, how will this succeed when the same government is planning to open up old grazing routes, some of which are now being occupied as a result of development in the society?”

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