The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to establish cattle ranches in Abuja and other states, describing it as a veiled attempt at land seizure and cultural domination.
In a statement released on Tuesday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, criticized the plan, particularly the siting of ranches in Abuja—the ancestral homeland of the Gbagi people.
He alleged that the initiative is a rebranded version of the controversial RUGA scheme and accused the Federal Government of prioritizing cattle over critical national issues such as education, security, and technological advancement.
“It is a shame that in the 21st century, the Federal Government is prioritising cow colonies over education, security, and innovation,” Powerful said.
He warned that the proposal could result in the marginalization and eventual displacement of indigenous populations, citing historical precedents. “What began as the ‘need for grazing’ centuries ago led to the total subjugation of proud territories—the rise of alien emirates, and the transformation of indigenous owners of the land into strangers in their ancestral homes. Abuja is about to witness the same fate if this madness is not stopped.”
Condemning the idea of siting ranches near the nation’s capital, he questioned the global precedent for such actions:
“President Tinubu [is] unaware that no sensible country in the world keeps cattle around its capital city? Let him point to any major city—from Nairobi to New Delhi, São Paulo to Seoul—where cattle are granted permanent settlements around central governance zones. This absurdity is uniquely Nigerian, and disgracefully so.”
Powerful emphasized that the land around Abuja belongs to the Gbagi people and warned against dispossessing them through government policy.
“To dispossess them by executive fiat is an unforgivable act of aggression and cultural genocide,” he said. “Today, the Gbagi are being pushed to the margins; tomorrow, there will be an Emir of Abuja. And in 60 years—just like what befell the Hausas—the Gbagi will be footnotes in history, reduced to relics of their own heritage.”
Reaffirming IPOB’s stance, he declared that no part of the South-East would be surrendered for herder settlements or cattle corridors.
“Our forests, our villages, our farmlands are sacred to us—not bargaining chips in a federal contract of death,” he stated. “Let them be transported by rail, just as is done in civilised societies. That’s how a serious nation handles its livestock economy—not by slaughtering indigenous peoples and seizing their homes under the guise of ranching.”
Powerful argued that no forward-thinking country allows ranches near schools, homes, and markets, adding, “The fact that this administration cannot comprehend this basic logic is a reflection of its failure, not ours.”
He concluded by affirming IPOB’s solidarity with the Gbagi people and other indigenous communities who feel threatened by the government’s proposal.
“IPOB stands with the Gbagi people and every other indigenous nationality facing existential threats from Fulani neo-colonial conquest dressed up as national policy.
Our diversity must be respected, our cultures preserved, and our ancestral lands protected. Let the killings in the name of cows stop. Let the bloodletting cease. Let Nigeria choose reason over ruin,” the statement added.
