Cattle Ranches: Benue Won’t Surrender an Inch of Land to Herders, Says Gov. Alia

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has vowed that his administration will not surrender any part of the state to herders, declaring that the government will confront insecurity and defend the ancestral lands of the people.
Alia made the declaration while addressing stakeholders from the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo and Kwande/Ushongo federal constituencies during his statewide thank-you tour.
The governor said his administration remained determined to protect lives and property and restore security to communities affected by violence.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for measures taken to strengthen the security architecture in Benue, particularly the establishment and siting of the Nigerian Army’s 5 Division in the state.
Alia said the increased military presence would reinforce efforts to tackle insecurity and provide greater protection for vulnerable communities.
The governor also assured traditional rulers that his administration would continue working closely with them in maintaining peace, resolving communal disputes, and mobilising their communities for development.
During his engagement in Sankera, Alia met traditional rulers, religious leaders, political stakeholders, elected representatives, and other community leaders to discuss security, development, and governance.
The Tor Sankera, HRH David Sevav, appealed to the government to intensify efforts to restore peace in the area.
He also called for the resuscitation of the waterworks and greater opportunities for Sankera indigenes in government appointments.
Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who accompanied Alia to Sankera, commended the administration’s performance, particularly its ongoing infrastructure projects.
Suswam pledged the support of the people of Sankera for the re-election of Alia and President Tinubu, urging political stakeholders to maintain unity and cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The member representing Sankera Federal Constituency, Solomon Wombo, similarly called for political unity and stronger grassroots mobilisation in support of the administration.
In Kwande, Alia held separate meetings with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political stakeholders, urging them to sustain unity and cooperation in the interest of the state’s development.
He praised traditional institutions for their role in maintaining peace and resolving disputes within communities.
The governor also commended religious leaders for their contributions to peacebuilding and peaceful coexistence, urging them to continue using their influence to promote unity.
At a town hall meeting with political stakeholders, Alia called on leaders to place the interests of Benue above personal and political differences and work collectively to consolidate what he described as the progress recorded by his administration.
The governor carried the same message to Jechira, where he separately engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political stakeholders.
He stressed the importance of unity, discipline, and collective participation in addressing the state’s challenges and accelerating development.
Benue APC Chairman, Benjamin Omale, thanked stakeholders in Sankera, Kwande, and Jechira for supporting the administration and urged them to sustain the momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
An APC leader in Kwande, Moses Ternenge, also pledged support for Alia, Tinubu, and the party’s candidates in the elections.
Alia maintained throughout the engagements that security remained fundamental to the government’s development programme, insisting that the state would protect its communities and would not yield its territory in the face of attacks or insecurity.