RUGA: Protest hits Otukpo over planned Fulani settlement in Idoma community

In response to the proposed RUGA settlement in Otobi Akpa, Otukpo local government area of Benue State, the traditional rulers, women, youths, children in the area on Wednesday June 26th, 2019 came out in their numbers to protest against the herdsmen settlement program.

Hon. Chief George Alli, the Otukpo local govt. caretaker chairman while reacting to the development condemned the move in totality saying “There’s no way you can use our land for such a thing without our consent. We will abide by the land use act of the government which stipulates that its only the state government that has the right to allocate lands to whoever it pleases. The locals are holding that land in trust for the government.

“The sign post that was mounted days ago was done without the knowledge of the people and the state government, and i don’t see where somebody will come to your community and mount a sign post claiming ownership of a land without the knowledge of the government. I have gotten the protest letter from the traditional rulers and am going to forward it to the relevant authority.” He added.

Chief Abel Egaji Abinya who spoke on behalf of the Akweya people who are the original occupants of the land said “we have no lands to lease for ranching or grazing. We have given lands to the Federal government for the dam project, Federal University of Health Sciences, Federal government college, crop research institute but this one we won’t accept because there is dept of land in our community.

“We the people of Benue have suffered enough in the hands of this Fulani herdsmen and for that we’ll not compromise.

“We will make sure we fish out whoever mounted that RUGA sign post without our consent.” he added.