Farmers, Herders Clash: Intersociety Faults CDS View On Creation Of Ranches

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Monday, July 28th, 2025

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A human rights organization, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has faulted a recent statement credited to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gwabim Musa on comment that the nation must create Ranches across the country to prevent Farmers-Herders’ clashes.

The Defence Chief had during a recent public event last Wednesday, averred that in order to address insecurity, two things are basic. “We must be able to control the movement of animals across the region.

“In doing that, it is important we create ranches. Ranches will do a great deal in securing our control and will prevent the conflict between the Farmer-Herders clashes.

“Secondly, we must learn to stop killing animals crossing into farms. What is done is you arrest the animals and compensations are made. If we are able to address these two things, over 65% of challenges we have against farmers will be dealt with”

But reacting to the position of the CDS, via a statement made available to newsmen weekend, Intersociety disagreed with General Musa, saying “we hereby make bold to say that he has not answered a million dollar question of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, his Commander-in-Chief.

President Tinubu had asked the Service Chiefs when he visited Benue on June 18, 2025 “Why have no arrests been made in Benue State?”

The statement was signed by head of Intersociety and lead Researcher, Emeka Umeagbalasi, who is also a Criminologist; Barrister Chinwe Umeche, a Human Rights Lawyer/Head, Democracy and Good Governance; Barr. Chidinma Udegbunam, who is Head, Campaign and Publicity, as well as Comrade Chibueze Nwajiaku, Deputy Head, Policing and Law Enforcement Department.

According to Intersociety, President Tinubu’s million dollar question followed systematic, well-coordinated and egregious massacre of over 200 unarmed and defenseless Christians in Yelwata part of Benue State on June13-14, 2025, which has since risen to 260 deaths.

“Till date, not even a single attacker involved in the gruesome killings has been arrested. Apart from CDS habitually rushing to the pages of newspaper and other media spaces to flood them with unguarded, unscientific and unverifiable utterances and grossly biased opinions and speeches.

“His latest emergence as avowed advocate of Fulani Ranching (RUGA) Settlements is a clear testament of continued use of Thou Shall Not Touch Or Arrest my fellow Fulani Tribesmen’s Commander-in-Chief Operational Code alleged to have been handed down by former President Muhammad Buhari and knowingly or unknowingly retained till date by President Tinubu.