BY OSBERT TOR-NAJIME, MAKURDI – The Benue State Government has raised alarm over what it described as renewed influx of armed herdsmen with large herds of cattle into parts of the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Mr. Benson Abounu, who raised the alarm while briefing the media on Wednesday, said 376 cows and six herdsmen were apprehended in Kaseyo, Guma Local Government Area of the state, adding that the herders were being investigated by the authorities.
Abounu said that investigation carried out following the declaration by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule about regrouping of Boko Haram insurgents at the boundary between Benue and Nasarawa uncovered mass presence of cattle along River Benue in Agatu and Gwer West Local Government Areas.
The Deputy Governor also said that security checks revealed the invasion of armed herdsmen with AK47 riffles and large herds of cattle on the brink of River Benue with the Nasarawa State bank.
He stated that in keeping with the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state, the cows were kept at the quarantine centre in the state and would be released to the owners after fulfilling the necessary conditions.
Abounu noted that Benue as one of the federating units in Nigeria is governed by laws, one of which is the prohibition of open grazing being enforced effectively with the primary aim of ending conflicts between herders and farmers.
Abounu while urging livestock farmers to acquire land in the state through lease for their businesses, said Benue is not in any way contemplating abrogating the law for any reason.
