The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said the state’s anti-open grazing law is still in force.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase, the governor said media reports suggesting that the law had been suspended were not correct.
He explained that the Benue State Security Council only suspended the operations of the state Livestock Guards for two weeks.
He said the suspension of the Livestock Guards was only for a grace period which became necessary to allow for reduction in the influx of cattle into the state.
He explained that majority of the pastoralists who came into the state said that after the February 25 and March 18, 2023 elections, they were told that a new government was in place in Benue State and the ban on open grazing of cattle had been lifted paving the way for them to move into the state without hindrance.
“As Governor Samuel Ortom stated while briefing the press at the end of the State Security Council meeting of Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the action is part of measures to ensure that all those who invaded the state with cattle leave, so that Benue people would have peace and go about their legitimate and lawful businesses.
“We must stress that the enforcement of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law is still in full force and anyone who flouts the law at the expiration of the two weeks grace period will be apprehended and prosecuted.
“Governor Ortom once again appreciates the people of Benue State for their support since the enforcement of the law commenced in 2017,” the statement read in part.
