Amid ongoing security concerns over attacks by armed herdsmen in parts of Nigeria, several groups from the Southeast have declared strong opposition to the RUGA (Rural Grazing Area) initiative, warning state governors in the region against endorsing the policy.
The groups, including the American Veterans of Igbo Descent and Ambassadors for Self-Determination, issued a communiqué in Abuja, insisting that there is no land available for RUGA in Igboland.
They argued that the initiative is neither designed for peace nor for genuine development.
“There is no land for RUGA in Igbo land. The idea is not for peace and development but a private business disguised as government policy,” the communiqué stated. “RUGA is a hidden plan to seize people’s ancestral lands and hand them to foreigners, using agriculture as an excuse.”
The groups also alleged that some Southeast governors and politicians might have collected ₦6 billion each as inducement to support the project, warning that such efforts would ultimately fail.
They vowed to resist any attempt to implement RUGA in the region, declaring their readiness to deploy all resources at their disposal to oppose the policy.
Citing ongoing violence in Benue State, the groups lamented the loss of over 1,800 lives between 2018 and 2023 due to attacks allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen, according to various human rights reports.
They urged traditional rulers, town unions, youth groups, market women associations, churches, and local communities to remain vigilant and resist any efforts to undermine their rights or forcibly acquire their lands.