Benue insists on Open Grazing Prohibition Law

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has insisted that the State Open Grazing Prohibition Law must stay. Ortom stressed that there is no plan to suspend the law despite threats and calls for its repeal from certain quarters.

The Governor reiterated the position of    government and people of the State Monday during the Media and Communications Briefing on the National Livestock Transformation Plan at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

In a bid to end incessant killings as a result of Fulani herdsmen attacks on farmers in Benue, the State government initiated the Open Grazing prohibition law which was signed May last year.

The law amongst others prohibited open grazing of all livestock in the state and cattle rustling by any individual.

However, shortly after its enactment, the Miyetti Allagh Kautal Hore, an umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen resisted the law and vowed to mobilize against its enforcement.

True to their threat, since the law became operational November last year, there have being series of attacks on Benue communities by armed herdsmen with hundreds been killed and property worth billions of Naira destroyed.

Also, Mansur Ali, Minister of Defence recently called for the suspension of the law alleging that it was responsible for the Benue killings.

However, Governor Ortom in his speech at the briefing organised by the National Economic Council Committee on Farmers/Herdsmen Crisis maintained that; “there is no plan to amend or repeal the Benue Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law”.

According to him, “the law was made by Benue people and only they can decide to amend even one section of the law”.

“Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore are responsible for the violent attacks on Benue and killing of hundreds of innocent people. It is baffling that leaders of the group (Miyetti Allah) have not been arrested.

“Cattle Breeding is private business, so the suggestion that government should establish ranches for people is not appropriate.

“States in Nigeria have peculiarities. What suits one state may not be the same in another. (The Governor was reacting to question on whether or not Benue was willing to embrace the proposed National Livestock Transformation Plan).

“Benue is willing to collaborate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders in ending the crisis to ensure the return of our people to their ancestral homes.

“As leaders, we ought to avoid making inflammatory statements suggesting that the law banning open grazing in some states is responsible for the killings. In Benue State for instance, the attacks started in 2011 when there was no open grazing prohibition law”, Ortom insisted.