Benue: I’ll return displaced farmers to their land — NDC gov candidate

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, has pledged to return displaced farmers to their communities and restore their ability to farm if elected.

Shija made the promise during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday while speaking about the security and humanitarian crisis affecting residents across the state.

He said more than 900,000 Benue residents were currently living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, claiming that many farmers had been unable to return to their ancestral lands because of insecurity.

Shija described Benue as an agrarian state where farming remains the main source of livelihood for a large proportion of the population.

“As it is now, this state is in a state of disrepair. The state is no longer in the hands of the owners of the states. Most of over 900,000 people are living in IDP camps. You should know that Benue state is an agrarian state.

“70% of the people of Benue are farmers. They can’t farm. Their land has been taken over by invaders.

“Herdsmen have taken over Benue land. And these people are living in IDP camps. Now the government has intended to introduce ranching. They have ended up ranching human beings. Human beings are now in IDP camps. And they are at the mercy of people in government.”

The NDC candidate said restoring the displaced population to their communities would be among his immediate priorities if he wins the governorship election.

According to him, displaced farmers must be given the opportunity to return home, resume agricultural activities and rebuild their lives.

“First of all, I have to rescue them from this situation. They have to go back to their land. They have to resume their farming. They have to resume their normal life,” he said.

Shija also criticised what he described as the normalisation of the displacement crisis, insisting that the situation required a comprehensive restructuring of the state.

“We can’t continue normalising what is happening. And once you rescue them, then you set a programme for restructuring. You make sure that Benue is reset afresh,” he said.

He said his proposed approach would focus on restoring security, rebuilding affected communities and creating conditions that would allow farmers to return to productive agricultural activities.