By Amos Aar
THE Benue State Government on Tuesday suspended the operations of the State Livestock Guards for two weeks to enable Fulani herdsmen openly grazing their cattle in the state to move out of the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom who presided over the State Security Council meeting on Tuesday at Government House, Makurdi, briefed journalists on the council’s decision shortly after the meeting.
He governor however did not disclose if he has communicated with the Fulani herdsmen to relocate from the state within the two-week timeframe other than the directive given to the livestock guards.
“We have also allowed the suspension of the operations of the Benue State Livestock Guards for two weeks so that those Fulani herdsmen who came into the state in their numbers with their cattle can go back to where they came from and allow our people to stay in peace,” Ortom said.
Within the two-week period, the Livestock Guards who are legally mandated to enforce the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law passed into law in 2017 have been ordered not to interfere with the movement of herdsmen and their cattle.
Governor Ortom however said the recently formed State Community Volunteer Guards will continue to work to maintain law and order.
The governor said: “Within a short period of 10 days we have recorded over 130 killings and we are still counting.
“This is not acceptable to the Security Council but we commend the security agencies for their prompt responses to distress calls; they have not relented despite the obvious challenges they face. We commend the support of the Community Volunteer Guards who are directly under the supervision of the Nigerian Police. We urge them to continue to be of good behaviour and patriotic in carrying out their responsibilities.
“We however condemn the unfolding alliance of some of our youths here in Benue state with Fulani terrorists joining hands and sometimes rustling cattle and conniving with some indigenous youths to slaughter or dispose them, we condemn that unfolding alliance.
“And we also condemn, though a rumour and subject to investigation, some traditional rulers who are also aware of this including some stakeholders in various communities, we condemn those acts. And we have charged security agencies to apprehend anyone that is found wanting as far as disobeying the law is concerned. Whoever you are; and whatever tribe you are from, it does not matter, you will be apprehended.
“All those conniving with Fulanis for the purpose of rustling cattle, security forces have been mandated to apprehend them and bring them to book.”
Governor Ortom lamented that there has been an influx of Fulani herdsmen into Benue State after the 2023 general elections in violation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law that abolished open grazing. He said there was the need for the herders to give farmers a chance to plant their crops for the season.
Ortom also disclosed that open grazing of cattle has worsened the farmers-herders crisis, resulting in the killing of many indigenes of the state at a time they are supposed to be working on their farms.
He explained that the Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was endorsed by the entire Benue people and therefore even if he exits office, the law will still stand as the best global practice of animal husbandry.
According to him, the law will still not permit herders to graze openly even when the APC takes over leadership of the state.
The governor cautioned Benue people against rustling herders’ cattle as they leave the state, adding that the law will not spare anyone caught in the act no matter how highly placed.
He also appealed to the APC to be patient on giving any orders including on the anti-open grazing law until after May 29, 2023 when it will be sworn-in to take full control of the state.
