The Benue State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected the proposed pilot ranching programme in the state.

The association explained that Benue had no land available for the Federal Government’s ranching programme and that its members were dissatisfied with the decision.

This was disclosed by the acting chairman of the association, Rev. Jonathan Terwase Ugbede, in Makurdi.

He explained that land in Benue was already inadequate for the state’s growing population, making it unreasonable to contemplate giving people’s ancestral lands to the Federal Government for the proposed ranching programme.

“Land has not been available anywhere in the state and the Church in Benue does not accept the pilot ranching.

“No government including Benue State should contemplate giving the ancestral lands to the Tinubu Federal Government for invasion in the form of the proposed ranching expected to be the private business,” he said.

Rev. Ugbede expressed concern that the government’s decision to establish ranches signified a neglect of the existing law prohibiting open grazing and providing for the establishment of ranches as private businesses, which he said the Federal Government was now pushing strongly to establish.

He lamented that the law had not been repealed, stressing that the pilot ranching programme would violate it through the use of public funds to seize lands belonging to people living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and establish ranches on them.

Chief Ugbede questioned why the government appeared unwilling to prioritise the return of displaced people to their ancestral homes to reclaim their lands, but had instead chosen to pursue the pilot ranching programme.

The Benue CAN chairman, however, applauded the Tinubu administration for establishing the 5 Division of the Nigerian Army in the state to address security concerns.

He said the move was commendable and capable of combating the prevailing insurgency while promoting peace and development in the state.