June 25, (THEWILL) – The Benue State Government has informed all stakeholders to note that the anti-open grazing law is still in existence in the State and must be respected.
The Benue State Security Council arrived at this decision at its meeting held in Government House, Makurdi and chaired by Governor Hycinth Alia last Thursday.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, said that a Sub-Committee of the Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security Services, Traditional Rulers, NAPTITP, Immigration, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA) and the Office of the Security Adviser, was set up to identify the heads of the Fulani herders and report back to the Security Council within three weeks.
According to Sir Kula, the Council decided that no single approach should be adopted, but two or more and stakeholders in the various sectors should ensure the enforcement of the Anti-Open grazing Law.
“All the stakeholders, especially the law enforcement agents should show sincerity in the implementation/enforcement of the Anti-Open Grazing Law currently in place in the state,” Kula said.
The Council also resolved that emphasis should be on the prevention of future attacks by armed/criminal herdsmen rather than the reactionary approach.
It stressed the need to have peaceful environment for the IDPs to return to their ancestral homes, while the Chief of Staff to the Governor would liaise with the Deputy Governor to look at the report on the boundary issue between Ohimini and Otukpo LGAs as discussed in the previous meeting.
According to Sir Kula, the Security Council warned against rustling of cattle in the state.
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