Metro
ANTI-GRAZING LAW: 400 herdsmen arrested, 40 convicted —Benue gov
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said the anti grazing law in the state has led to the arrest of over 400 herders, while some other 40 have been convicted since the law was implemented.
Ortom, on Tuesday, disclosed this during the orientation workshop organised by the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state for the council of chiefs and traditional rulers.
The governor said the government of the state had resisted intimidation in implementing the law.
The governor who is seeking a re-election said any cow seen roaming on any streets in the state would be impounded while adding that initial defaulters this law had been made to pay huge amount to retrieve their cows.
He warmed traditional rulers in the state against giving room for grazing in their domain.
“There is no amount of intimidation that will stop the anti-open grazing law, it is already in force, there is no going back.
“Any chief who allows herdsmen to graze openly in their domain is causing problems for himself because if our forefathers had caved in into the antics of these people, they would have taken over our land.
“We have arrested over 400 herdsmen, convicted over 40 herdsmen; if you are in doubt, go to the prison, you will see them there.”
Read also: Lagos, Kano lead in highest number of voters
He added, “Any cattle we see roaming the street would be impounded. Recently, we impounded some cows, the owners came and paid over N300,000.00, another paid over N400,000.00; also one of them paid N600,000.00.
“I have challenged the Presidency to show me any better alternative to ranching but till now no one has come out with a better option to ranching. “
The governor maintained that the state would resist any form of external influence during elections in the state while adding that “there is no federal might that is greater than state might.”
“They have been talking of federal might, don’t be deceived, there is no federal might that is greater than state might; it is you people in the state that can determine what happens in the state, when the time (elections) comes. I will go round the state and supervise the elections.”
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...