Ruga Settlement Is A Fulani Agenda – Benue, Taraba CAN

  • Group describes it as land grabbing initiative.
  • CAN says it’s not relevant to the state.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State chapter has opposed the proposed Ruga settlement by the federal government saying it was meant to promote a Fulani agenda.

Speaking at a press conference in Makurdi, the state chairman, Augustine Akpen-Leva, stated that the Ruga settlement was of no relevance to the people of the state.

Also reacting to the issue, Taraba State youths and the state leadership of CAN rejected the Ruga settlement scheme, saying it’s not acceptable.

READ: Ruga Settlement: Nobody Can Come from Outside to Take Ekiti Land -Fayemi

The youth group led by the state President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Udi Adamu, staged a peaceful protest against the scheme in Jalingo, the state capital while the state CAN Chairman, Dr Innocent Solomon, in a statement, said the scheme was unacceptable.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) also said that the Ruga settlements for herdsmen in some parts of the country,. which is a recipe for crisis, insisting that the Ijaw people would resist them.

Eric Omare, IYC President pointed that it was wrong for one ethnic group to impose its wish on the entire country.

IYC, therefore, warned that the Ijaw people were ready for war should there be any attempt to take their land for the purpose of Ruga settlements.

Also, the coalition of human rights activists, under the aegis of Greater Restoration Initiative, described the Ruga settlement scheme, as “land grab initiative.”

READ: Ruga: We Gave No Land, FG Has No Gazetted Land – South East Governors’ Forum

The group, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “rebuild destroyed and displaced communities of farmers and not Ruga settlements” for his kinsmen.

According to the coalition the GRI in a statement by its President, Dr. James Mozeh, in Abuja on Monday, said a disclaimer by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the Ruga initiative, was not enough to explain the personality behind its supervision and the reason behind it.

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