Worried by the influx of herdsmen into Benue State in the past few weeks, Governor Hyacinth Alia has re-affirmed that the state’s Open-Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law is still active in the state.
The state already has many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) arising from violent skirmishes with armed herders.
In a parley with union leaders in the state in the late hours of Monday, in Makurdi, the governor expressed the people’s concerns and promised to ensure that the herders “go back to where they came from”.
He said the essence of the interface was to intimate the unions on the happenings in the state and at the national level, and to appreciate them for supporting his administration.
Alia blamed the recent influx of the herders and their cattle in the state to detractors, whom he accused of writing to the herders in Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries to come and settle back in Benue, as, according to them, the Anti-open-grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has been relaxed.
He said: “I feel quite sad, however, as the security report on good authority at our disposal indicts certain people, who are responsible for the influx of the herders in the state. My dear people of Benue, on very good authority, I want you to know that the anti-open grazing law is still in place.”
The governor, who acknowledged the damage to farmlands by the herders in the renewed influx, however, cautioned the people never to take laws into their hands.
Stephen Lawal, who spoke on behalf of the transport unions, and Ben Awuhe, who spoke on behalf of the market unions, appreciated the governor for bringing stability to the unions and assured of their continued support and cooperation.
