Herdsmen Challenge: Benue set to enact anti-open grazing law

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said he would sign an Anti-open grazing Bill into law in his state as part of measures to put paid to the incessant killings and violence perpetrated by herdsmen in the state.

 

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State

Ortom who disclosed this to newsmen after a meeting with acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said the state government will do everything within its power to end the threat posed by herdsmen.

He said there is no land for grazing in Benue State because the entire area is meant for cultivation. He, however, noted that there has been a measure of co-operation between farmers and herdsmen in recent times.

Ortom, who said the federal government and security agencies had been very supportive in assisting the state with its security crisis, added that his visited the Villa to brief the acting president on the security situation in the state.

“I’m here to also brief him on the security situation in my state. We are on top of the situation and things are calming down. The herdsmen and the farmers are now co-operating.

“The understanding is that no one should encroach into anyone’s farm, whether for cattle breeding or farming activities. And those ones that cannot live within the community, except they do open grazing, are already moving to other places where there is land.

“Like we keep saying in Benue State, almost all the land is for cultivation. So, it’s difficult to talk about grazing. We’ll soon sign the Anti-open Grazing Bill into law and we are looking forward to receiving the same cooperation from farmers and herdsmen so that we can live together as brothers and sisters.

“We can do it. It is achievable, living without strife and fighting and killings; we can live together.

“Human life is very precious to some of us and we’ll do everything to protect lives and property in the state,” he said.