By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
The Benue State Government has declared that the fourteen day ultimatum given to the herdsmen to leave Benue State ended on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 and the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law would be enforced.
Addressing journalists.on Wednesday at the Government House, Makurdi, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, said as the grace period of fourteen days was over, no one would be allowed to graze openly in the state as any one caught would face the law.
Governor Alia, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, disclosed that the security council met and decided to give the grace period to enable those that wanted to leave to do so even as a seven man committee was put in place by the council to monitor the compliance of the herders and come out with its report.
He said the government was satisfied with the report indicating that some herdsmen have left the state while some were still in the state even as they have refused to comply with the law or the state government directive to leave the state.
The Benue State Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim in his comment during the briefing, reiterated that Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was not targeting any particular person and any one caught contravening the law would face the law.
In his contribution, the Chairman of the seven man committee set up by the security council, Major General Sunday Igbinomamhia, who is the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, informed that with the end of the 14-day ultimatum, full implementation of the law would follow.
General Igbinomamhia also explained that the killings in Ukum Local Government was not from herders but a clash of rival militia groups in the area and appealed to the youths in the area to embrace peace for the corporate existence of the state.
Leave a Reply