Samuel Ortom, the Benue State Governor has asked herders engaging in open grazing to leave the state, adding that he is temporarily suspending the operations of Livestock Guards and the state para-military agency saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the State Anti-Open Grazing Law for a period of two weeks.
Ortom advised the herders to use the two weeks as a period of grace to exist the state or be ready to face the law.
The governor made the disclosure to newsmen on Tuesday, shortly after a Security Council meeting that had been called following the recent killings in the state.
It was reported that no fewer than 130 persons had been killed in the last few days following attacks by armed herdsmen.
The Governor, addressing journalists shortly after the security meeting, explained that “the suspension was to show a good fate to all the herders who claimed to have come into the state without knowing there was Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017”.
Ortom further revealed that security agencies in the state have received directives from President Muhammadu Buhari to fish out perpetrators of the mass killings.
He called on the security agencies to act fast on the matter to bring justice and solace to the victims of the attack.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has called for herders engaging in open grazing to leave the state, announcing a two-week suspension of the enforcement of the State Anti-Open Grazing Law to provide a grace period for their exit. This temporary suspension is aimed at addressing claims by herders that they were unaware of the law. The decision follows a Security Council meeting in response to recent attacks by armed herdsmen that resulted in the deaths of over 130 people. Governor Ortom emphasized the need for swift action from security agencies, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, to apprehend those responsible for the violence and bring justice to the victims.
