…says Govt will do everything to ensure the herders return back to where they came from
Benue Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia has said the state’s Open-Grazing Prohibition & Ranches Establishment Law is still in full force.
The Governor disclosed this on Monday, February 19th, 2024, when he held an interface with leaders of various unions in the state, at the old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi.
He said the essence of the interface was to intimate the unions on the happenings both in the state and at the national level, and to also appreciate them for their support for the administration.
He charged the unions to always ensure peaceful and friendly coexistence amongst them, urging them to be cordial in their dealings and resolutions without always involving the courts, and to also not allow themselves to be used by anyone to destabilize the peace in the state.
Speaking on security, governor Alia said the recent influx of the herders and their cattle in the state is because some persons had written to the herders in neighbouring countries such as Niger Republic, to come and settle back in Benue,
as according to them, the anti-open-grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law has been relaxed.
“I feel quite sad however, as the security report has it on good authority that, there are certain people who are responsible for the influx of the herders in the state.
“They even went out of their way, to go all the way to the Nigerien border to invite the herders to come in; that the law they had in Benue before is then, and so nothing is going to happen.”
The governor however, assured the people of the state that the law is in force, and has not been relaxed by anyone.
“My dear people of Benue, on very good authority, I want you to know that the Anti-Open Grazing law is still in place.