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| Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, |
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has given a firm assurance that no part of the state’s territory will be given, taken over or ceded to herders under any circumstance.
The governor made the declaration on Monday while addressing stakeholders from the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo (Sankera) and Kwande/Ushongo (Jechira) federal constituencies during the ongoing statewide thank-you tour of his administration.
Alia told traditional rulers, religious leaders, political stakeholders and community representatives that his government remains fully committed to protecting the ancestral lands of Benue people. In remarks reported across multiple platforms, he stated that nobody would force the state to surrender even an inch of its land to pastoralists for ranching or any other purpose while he remains governor.
The strong position comes against the backdrop of renewed public concern over the Federal Government’s pilot national ranching programme, which listed Benue among the states selected for the first phase. Major sociocultural organisations representing the Tiv, Idoma and Igede peoples had earlier rejected the inclusion of Benue without the consent of the state government and the affected communities.
Governor Alia linked his stance to the broader fight against insecurity. He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to defeat the security challenges facing parts of the state and to defend lives, property and the territorial integrity of Benue. He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for steps taken to reinforce the state’s security architecture, especially the establishment and location of the Nigerian Army 5 Division in Benue, describing it as a significant development that strengthens the capacity to respond to threats.
In Sankera, the governor met with traditional rulers and other stakeholders. The Tor Sankera, His Royal Highness David Sevav, appealed for intensified efforts to restore lasting peace in the area, the rehabilitation of the waterworks serving the community, and greater consideration for Sankera indigenes in government appointments. Alia assured the traditional rulers of continued partnership in promoting peace, resolving disputes and mobilising their people for sustainable development.
Similar engagements were held in Kwande and Jechira. At these meetings, the governor praised traditional rulers for their contributions to peacebuilding and conflict resolution within their domains. He also recognised the important role of religious leaders in fostering peaceful coexistence and urged them to continue using their influence to promote unity among residents.
At a town hall meeting with political stakeholders, Alia called on leaders to place the collective interest of Benue above individual political differences. He stressed the need for unity, discipline and active participation in the development of the state.
Former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who joined the Sankera visit, commended the current administration for its performance, particularly the infrastructure projects being executed across Benue. He said the people of Sankera support Alia’s re-election bid as well as that of President Tinubu, and called on stakeholders to maintain unity and cooperation.
Other APC figures, including the member representing Sankera Federal Constituency, Solomon Wombo, the state party chairman Benjamin Omale, and local chieftains, also used the occasions to mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Alia’s declaration reinforces Benue’s existing open-grazing ban and the long-running debate over land use, farmer-herder relations and the management of pastoralism in the state. By publicly rejecting any forced ceding of land, the governor has sought to reassure communities that remain sensitive about territorial control and security.
The thank-you tour continues as the governor engages stakeholders across the remaining federal constituencies, combining political mobilisation with direct engagement on security and development issues that dominate public discourse in Benue.