By Amos Aar
BENUE STATE Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has promised to ensure full implementation of the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law to stop the ongoing influx of herdsmen into Benue and the accompanying killings of farmers by suspected herders; Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Tersoo Kula, made this known while addressing some journalists at Government House, Makurdi on Thursday.
National Record had reported how the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) and the Benue State House of Assembly had at separate fora tasked the governor to enforce the law when the influx and open grazing continued in spite of the law prohibiting it.
He urged anyone coming to Benue to do livestock business to know that the Anti-Open Grazing Law was still in place and must be obeyed by ranching the animals or those contravening the law should be ready to face sanctions as enshrined in the law.
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Kula said the governor has more interest in arresting erring herders rather than impounding cows and allowing the perpetrators to go scot-free.
In the same vein, the Special Adviser to the governor on Internal Security, Mr Joseph Har, who was given one week ultimatum by the State Assembly to stop herdsmen influx into Benue or tender his resignation to his principal, had at a security meeting with traditional rulers, local government caretaker committee chairmen, the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Thursday in Makurdi said the Anti-Open Grazing Law was still in force and would take its course against anyone who violates it.
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He further disclaimed that the state government did not contract Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku and Alhaji Yakubu Isherev to assist in addressing the current security challenge as according to him, Alia’s administration was doing its best lawfully to tackle the situation.
Responding, the Benue State chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Mohammed, said, among other things, members of MACBAN were fully aware of the existing Anti-Open Grazing Law but called on the Benue State Government to prevail on herders within the state to show example by ranching their livestock for external herders to emulate the practice.
