The Benue State House of Assembly has called on the Nigerian Military to immediately cease the harassment and intimidation of its host communities of Ugondu, Makurdi-North and Mbaivur, Makurdi Local Government Area of the state.
Similarly, the House summoned the Commissioner of Lands, Survey, and Solid Minerals, Dr Frederick Kyaan, and the Director of Lands to appear before it and tender the Certificate of Occupancy, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), evidence of compensation, and all documents pertaining to the allocation of land to Military formations in the state.
The House equally urged the Benue State Government to immediately engage with relevant Federal Government authorities, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army and the Federal Ministry of Defence, to halt any further takeover of lands in Ugondo, Mbaivur and Makurdi North pending proper review as well as called on the Federal Government to ensure that all land acquisition processes follow due process, including proper consultation and the payment of adequate compensation to affected persons and communities.
The decision was reached during plenary presided over by the Hon. Speaker Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Makurdi South State Constituency, Hon. Douglas Akya, informing the House of the intimidation, harassment and taking over of lands belonging to the Ugondu and Mbaivur community.
He further explained that “the people of Mbaivur in Gwer East, Ugondo in Makurdi South and natives of Makurdi North are predominantly agrarian and land remains their major source of livelihood and cultural identity, and the alleged takeover of these lands, without adequate consultation and compensation, has brought untold hardship and growing tension within these communities.
Members who contributed to the motion, expressed dissatisfaction over the harassment and intimidation of innocent farmers in their ancestral homes by the Nigerian Military, stating that while they recognize and appreciate the critical role of the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army in safeguarding our nation’s territorial integrity, it is equally important that the rights and dignity of host communities are respected and protected by these same security organizations.
According to the House, the continuous harassment, intimidation and denial of access to ancestral farmlands by the Nigerian Airforce and Nigerian Army is already causing untold hardship on the people of Ugondo, Mbaivur in Makurdi South and Gwer East, respectively as well as the natives of Makurdi North, noting that the development, if not urgently addressed, may lead to a breakdown of law and order.
The House further called on the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army to immediately cease all forms of intimidation and harassment allegedly being carried out by their personnel against the host communities, as well as mandates its Standing Committees on Lands, Surveys and Solid Minerals and Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate the matter and report back within two weeks.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Zape Michael Upaa, quoted the Speaker, who co- sponsored the motion, as directing the clerk of the House, Dr Bem Faasema Mela, to immediately communicate the House resolutions to the Nigerian Army and Air Force, respectively.
