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Governor Ortom Suspends Anti-Open Grazing Law, Task Force In Benue State For Two Weeks

Governor Ortom Suspends Anti-Open Grazing Law, Task Force In Benue State For Two Weeks
April 12, 2023

Governor Samuel Ortom revealed this at the end of a state security council meeting following the killing of over 130 people in one week.

The Benue State Government has suspended the operations of the livestock guards, the state paramilitary agency tasked with enforcing the Open Grazing Prohibition and

Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 for two weeks in order to allow all herdsmen with livestock in Benue territory to leave.

Governor Samuel Ortom revealed this at the end of a state security council meeting following the killing of over 130 people in one week.

The move is intended to show mercy to all those who claim to have entered the state unaware that there is a law prohibiting open grazing.

He also stated that security agencies in the state had confirmed receipt of President Muhammadu Buhari's directive to apprehend perpetrators of the mass killings across the state, a duty he believes security agencies must fulfill quickly in order to bring victims of the attack some form of justice.

“We commend the President for condoling with Benue people and direct security agencies to apprehend perpetrators of this act. The Security agencies are duty bound to carry out this directive and I am waiting to see action that will culminate into cessation of killings and restore peace in the state,” Ortom said.

Recall that the State House of Assembly amended the law prohibiting open grazing in the State (Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017) to provide stiffer penalties for violators in January.

The law has now included a 14-year jail term with an option of N5million fine for anyone found guilty of encouraging under-aged children to graze cattle openly in any part of the State.