The Benue State House of Assembly has taken its final decision on the proposed Fulani settlement in three local government areas of the state and directed caretaker chairmen of the affected councils to remove any signposts concerning Ruga or anything of such in their areas.
The order came as hundreds of youths on Friday June 28, 2019, shut down Zaki-Biam, the commercial nerve centre of the people of Ukum, one of the local government areas pencilled down for the location of the project.
The lawmakers unanimously turned down the proposed Ruga establishment following a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Majority Leader, Damian Cheme, calling on the House to reject the proposed establishment of Ruga Settlement in any part of the state.
Cheme, in the motion, stated that the state government following the constant conflict between herdsmen and farmers in the state which led to the killing of innocent lives, enacted Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Law as a permanent solution to the crisis.
He expressed worry that the federal government has abandoned ranching which is a global best practice in breeding livestock and was as had been adopted by the National Economic Council (NEC), adding that the development is an attempt to scuttle the resolve of the state government to protect the land and people of the state.
Contributing, Deputy Speaker, Christopher Adagi, Majority Chief Whip, Thomas Mlanga, and Deputy Chief Whip, Peter Onche, all condemned the action of the federal government, saying the establishment of Ruga settlement would not work as it is against the existing law of the state.
Ruling, Speaker, Mr. Titus Uba, who said the motion was apt, described the action of the federal government as a distraction to the state as the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has come to stay.
Meanwhile, socio-economic and vehicular activities were grounded to a halt at Zaki Biam, the commercial nerve center of Ukum local government area as hundreds of youths Thursday, shut down the town in protest against the proposed establishment of “Ruga Settlements” in the area and other parts of the state.
The protesters who were led by Mr. one Gideon Tyozenda chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with different inscriptions: “NO LAND FOR INTRUDERS”, OUR HERITAGE CAN’T BE TEMPERED WITH”, “WE CONDEMN RUGA SETTLEMENT IN UKUM” as well as RUGA SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN THE FAR NORTH” among many others.
The youths who vowed to defend their heritage at all cost said, the proposed Ruga settlement was a deliberate strategy to annex their ancestral land for herdsmen to rear their cattle and deprive them of their only source of livelihood.
According to them, the Ukum people have no single piece of land to cede for the project, adding that the little one they have cannot even accommodate their farming needs.
Addressing the protesters at the local government council secretariat, the Caretaker chairman. Hon. Ibellogo Tor Tyokaa accompanied by the chairman Ukum Traditional Council led by Ter Ukum, HRH Arc. Orkaa Kaave said, they were at the local government secretariat in solidarity with the youths and promised to convey their message to Governor Samuel Ortom.
Meanwhile, stakeholders of the local government have condemned the proposed Ruga settlements in the area.
The stakeholders, who rose from an emergency meeting held at the council’s hall, Sankera outrightly rejected the project and called on federal government to recind the decision with immediate effect.
They warned that should the federal government defies their warning, they will explore all available legal means to protect their ancestral heritage.
In separate remarks, a two term Senator representing Benue North East senatorial district and former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Professor Daniel Saror, expressed surprise over the unilateral decision of the federal government to cite the project in the state especially in areas worst hit by armed For herdsmen.
Senator Saror who drew the federal government’s attention to the 1978 Land Use Act, wondered in whose authority the federal government has come up with such an unpopular decision.
He said instead of ceding part of the local government’s scarce land for such a project, the federal government should explore the possibility of acquiring such land from either Sokoto, Katsina or Kano states which he said have vast expanse of land.
Other speakers at the meeting including the Ter Ukum, His Royal Highness Chief Orkaa Kaave, caretaker chairman of Ukum local government council Tor Tyokaa Ibellogo and a former State House of Assembly member for Ukum to deny the people access to their only means of livelihood.
