By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State government has promised full-scale implementation of the anti-open grazing law as the 2-week ultimatum given to “all armed and unarmed herders to withdraw from the state” has elapsed.
Governor Alia, who made this known on Wednesday through his deputy, Sam Ode, during a joint press briefing at Government House, Makurdi said, a committee set up by the State Security Council headed by the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Sunday Igbinomwanhia, to review the activities and disengagement of armed herdsmen from Benue State submitted its report on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 which he said the state government was satisfied with.
The governor said “the armed herders were to leave the state immediately but other herders who engaged in open grazing were given 2 weeks, that is 14 days ultimatum, to peacefully withdraw from Benue state” and those still grazing openly will face full wrath of the law.
RELATED NEWS:
Anti-Open Grazing: Police Say Herders Complying With Benue Govt’s Ultimatum
Benue Govt Gives 2 Weeks To People Practicing Open Grazing Quit State Or…
Governor Alia confirmed that there was peaceful withdrawal of armed herders in the last two weeks, adding clearance operations were carried out in some areas to evict some non-compliant herders.
Also speaking during the joint press briefing, Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, said the anti-open grazing law “is not against herding but open grazing”. So, the law will take its cause on those who are violating it now that the 14-day ultimatum has elapsed. On his part, the commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Igbinomwanhia, said many armed herders had complied with the directive, explaining that the army carried out clearance operation in Kwande local government despite the ultimatum because armed herders had launched attacks on some communities. He however confirmed that normalcy has been restored to the affected area.
