KATSINA-ALA — Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has declared that no part of the state will be surrendered to herders, vowing to protect the ancestral lands of Benue communities and defeat insecurity .
The governor made the declaration on Monday during a statewide thank-you tour, addressing stakeholders from the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo and Kwande/Ushongo Jechira federal constituencies .
“Nobody will force us to cede even an inch of our land to the pastoralist for any purpose. If that must happen, I can assure you, it will not be this time that I am still the Governor of Benue State,” Alia declared, amid renewed debate over the Federal Government’s pilot ranching programme, which listed Benue among the states selected for the first phase .
The governor reiterated his administration’s determination to tackle insecurity and defend the territorial integrity of the state . He commended President Bola Tinubu for measures taken to reinforce Benue’s security architecture, particularly the establishment and siting of the Nigerian Army 5 Division in the state .
During the engagement, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political stakeholders discussed security and development needs. The Tor Sankera, HRH David Sevav, appealed for the restoration of peace, the resuscitation of the waterworks, and increased opportunities for Sankera indigenes in government appointments .
The governor assured traditional rulers of continued partnership in maintaining peace and resolving disputes .
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