AKPA/OTOBI COMMUNITY PROTESTS PLANS BY FG TO FOIST RUGA SETTLEMENTS FOR HERDSMEN IN THEIR LAND.{PHOTOS}.#PRESS RELEASE.

      The people of Akpa/Otobi community, on Wednesday 27th June 2019, rose in protest against plans by the Federal Government to impose RUGA SETTLEMENT for Herdsmen in their community, insisting they have no land for Cattle grazing.

The people came out in their numbers bearing placards with various inscription, chanting protest songs. They called on the Federal Government to recind the decision to give their land to Herdsmen in the interest of peace, saying they are farmers.

One of the protesters who spoke on condition of anonimy said: "We are peasant farmers and we can't grow our crops with cattle. We are calling on Government to rethink this move"
The Acting District head Akpa Otobi, Chief Ochinya Ofeka said, "We gave lands to Federal Government for dam, Research Center and for school of Health Science. But we don't have for open grazing in whatever name or form"

They also handed a protest letter to the Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Rt. Hon. George Alli, who drove to address the scene, accompanied by the Council Vice Chairman, Hon. Abraham Adakonye, Chief of Staff, Hon. Igoche Ajaka and other Council members.

Hon. Alli appealed for calm; urging them not to take laws into their own hands. He said: "First of all I want to thank you all for your peaceful approach towards this matter. I urge you all to stay calm, your concerns will be addressed."

Speaking further Alli said: "The Nigerian Constitution is very clear on the land use act. The ownership of all lands within any state in the Federation is vested in the state Government."

Speaking further, Alli said: "And like His Excellency the Executive Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom said, Benue is in full support of Ranching, but we are against open grazing under any nomenclature, weather cattle colony or RUGA Settlement". Alli promise to deliver their letter to the state Governor.

The Federal Government on Tuesday said in the next five years, the establishment of Ruga settlements in the country would stop open grazing by herdsmen and end herdsmen-farmers’ clashes across the country.

The Federal Government explained that the establishment of Ruga settlements, which had been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and had started in 12 states, would allow herdsmen to stay in specific areas, where they could graze their animals.

But media reports has it that state Governors: Samuel Ortom (Benue); Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and the Ondo State Government; including all the five South-East state have rejected the Ruga settlements, saying they would not give out their land for herdsmen’s settlements in their states.More photos below.