The Makurdi Diocese chapter of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA) has formally voiced its opposition to the federal government’s move to include Benue State in a pilot National Ranching Policy. This initiative, announced by Livestock Development Minister Alhaji Idi Maiha, affects five areas including Benue and the Federal Capital Territory. NCDPA Chairman, Rev. Fr. Joseph Beba, characterized Benue as a vulnerable region already suffering from insecurity, arguing that the state government was sidelined during the policy’s development. The clergy contended that local officials would never have agreed to terms that compromise the security and ancestral land rights of their constituents.
Expressing deep concerns, the association stated that it would not permit the policy to serve as a front for land dispossession or the permanent removal of native populations. The priests praised Bishop Wilfred Anagbe for his vocal stance against policies they deem harmful to local heritage. They urged the federal government to prioritize transparency and consult directly with state leadership, traditional rulers, and community representatives. The NCDPA firmly asserted that agriculture remains the backbone of the region, making commercial ranching unfeasible, and demanded that internally displaced persons be allowed to return home to their own lands immediately.
