Youths from Christian communities across the Middle Belt have demanded the immediate return of displaced persons to their ancestral lands, insisting that any resettlement effort without restitution or legal land ownership will only worsen the region’s crisis and fuel further discontent.
The call was made by Mr. Jethro Doyum Moor, spokesperson of the group, during a press briefing in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday.
He addressed the media on behalf of Christian youths drawn from Benue, Southern Kaduna, Southern Bauchi, and Plateau States.
The coalition decried what they described as the forceful occupation of their ancestral lands by armed invaders.
Moor lamented that prolonged silence and government inaction had emboldened the attackers to continue taking over farmlands and homes, leaving millions displaced and impoverished. He warned that continued neglect by authorities could trigger civil unrest and further erode public trust in governance.
He stated, “We demand the immediate return not just resettlement of our people who have been displaced from their ancestral lands.
“We further demand that state governments issue Certificates of Occupancy to all displaced persons over their ancestral lands to recognize their genuine titles. Anything short of this is institutionalizing injustice.”
He continued, “These attacks are not isolated incidents. They are part of a coordinated campaign to depopulate, displace, and impoverish indigenous communities and then take over our lands.”
The youths also expressed grave concern over the failure of security agencies to arrest or prosecute known perpetrators. They described the continued occupation of their villages by armed groups as a sign of state failure and possible complicity.
“We are aware that the attackers are well-armed and yet roam freely. Security actors must be impartial and professional in their duties. Nigerians displaced from their lands must not remain in camps while invaders settle permanently on their property,” he declared.
Beyond land restitution, the group called for legal protection for farmers against harassment by cattle herders and urged the federal government to overhaul the nation’s security architecture. They recommended a shift toward community policing and the establishment of early response mechanisms in rural communities.
The press conference was convened under the umbrella of Christian youths from various denominations, including the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST), and the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN).
The group concluded by urging the government at all levels to treat the return of displaced persons and the restoration of their land rights as a matter of national urgency.
“Until our people are returned to their lands and their rights are restored, there can be no true peace, no justice, and no reconciliation.”
