Reacting to the alleged influx of herdsmen to Benue state, the state’s Governor, Samuel Ortom has warned that the state’s anti-grazing law remains in effect and would not hesitate to bring to book, any herdsmen caught in violation.
Ortom who gave the warning on Thursday in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase said herdsmen invading the state without recourse to the law would made to bear the consequences as no one is above the law.
“The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 is sacrosanct and must be obeyed by everyone, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and place of origin” he said.
“The law does not accord preferences to anyone.
“It has become necessary to remind pastoralists moving into Benue State with their livestock in the last couple of weeks that there is a law in force in the state which has placed a permanent ban on open grazing of animals.
“No individual or group of persons is above the law. Whoever wants to do livestock business in Benue should remember that there is a law in place which regulates animal husbandry. The herdsmen who are invading the state with their cattle in gross violation of the law should expect legal consequences of their actions” he stated.
