Again, Ortom Asks FG to Return IDPs to Ancestral Homes, Farm Settlements

George Okoh In Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom at the weekend asked the federal government to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes as one of the measures to save Nigeria from hunger and starvation.

Ortom, whose state has been under sustained attacks by Fulani herdsmen, warned that if the federal government did not ensure the return of IDPs, who are mainly farmers, to their ancestral homes, food insecurity, hunger and starvation might be worsened.

He gave the warning at the distribution of improved rice and maize seedlings at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Makurdi on Friday, saying the return of IDPs to their ancestral homes would boost food production nationwide.

Benue State has been under incessant attacks of Fulani herdsmen, thereby leading to the displacement of at least one million indigenous peoples and farmers from their ancestral homes and farm settlements across the state as shown in the statistics of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

In its 2020 mass atrocities report, Global Rights, an international human rights organisation based in Washington D.C., claimed in its report that at least 4,558 persons lost their lives in violent attacks in 2020 nationwide.

With 145 cases (3.18%), according to the report, Benue was ranked sixth while Borno first with 1176 cases (26.8%); Kaduna second with 628 cases (13.78%), Katsina third with 501 cases (10.99%), Zamfara fourth with 262 cases (5.75%), Niger fifth with 254 cases (5.57%).

The report, also, put killings that resulted from communal clashes at 407 (9.13%), extra-judicial killing 271 (6.08%), herdsmen killing 270 (6.06%), cult-gang killings 247 (5.54), isolated killings 185 (4.15), mob action 12 (0.26%), politically motivated killings 7 (0.15%) and pirate attacks 4 (0,09%).

At the distribution, the governor of Benue State urged the federal government to ensure that the displaced persons, most of whom are farmers, return to their ancestral homes and farm settlements.
Ortom challenged the federal government to promote commercial agriculture and farming as one of the strategies to save Nigeria from hunger, malnutrition and starvation.
He noted that Nigeria “is witnessing high cost of food items caused mainly by insecurity and low production of food produce. The return of IDPs to their ancestral homes will boost crop production nationwide.”

He emphasised the need for all farmers in the state to diversify to enhance food security, noting that the state “is trying to add value to agricultural production for food security and for export earning.”

He said research carried out showed that Benue State “is rich in the cultivation of watermelon, which is consumed globally and urged the people to take advantage and explore this avenue. We are distributing over 4,666 improved rice seedlings, 230 bags of maize, 690 water melon and 10,000 improved cassava stems.

“The local government chairmen should encourage their people to cultivate watermelon, cassava which are in high demand. We have two Chinese firms that have set up Ethanol Plants one is located close to Albinsi and another in Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Government Area.

“One of the companies requires over 300 metric tonnes of cassava. Soon, cassava will be in high demand and will be mopped up by these companies.

“By next week, the state government will flag-off fertilizer sales. It is expected that communities will pay 50 percent for Urea while NPK will attract 60 percent subsidy,” he said.

The governor, therefore, urged the people of Benue State to make judicious use of improved seedlings to boost food production in the state.

Also at the distribution, Special Adviser, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Achabo lamented the destruction of farmlands in the state by incessant attacks by herders.

The special adviser, however, explained that improved seedlings and stems would serve as palliatives, which according to him, were distributed to them without cost implications.