ANTI-GRAZING LAW: Gov Otom cries against alleged plot by W’African Fulani herdsmen to invade Benue

The Christian Association of Nigeria and the people of Benue have been asked to pray and fast for God’s intervention over a purported plot by Fulani herdsmen in the West African sub-region to invade the state.

The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, raised the alarm on Saturday during a funeral at the NKST Church, Taraku in Gwer Local Government Area of the state.

He said the planned attack was to stop the state’s anti-grazing law and that what was needed to stop the invasion is divine intervention.

“I received security reports that Fulani herdsmen from across the West African sub-region are planning to invade Benue to stop the implementation of the anti-grazing law in the state.

“I call on the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to organise prayers and fasting for divine intervention on the matter because we need peace in our state.”

The governor said that the anti-open grazing law was the best thing to do in order to curb the incessant clashes between farmers and herders in the state. He therefore called on Benue citizens to support its implementation, insisting that the anti-open grazing law cannot be stopped as it has come to stay.

Ortom further promised that his administration is determined to ensure the implementation of the law at the end of the window period allowed herders in the state to build ranches and urged the people to shun communal violence over land and resort to dialogue in the resolution of disputes.

“Because lives and property lost during such crisis could not be replaced”, he added.

Recall that Kaduna State’s Governor Nasir El-Rufai, had claimed that Fulani herdsmen from neighbouring countries had been responsible for attacks in Southern Kaduna which have claimed no less than a thousand lives.

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Meanwhile, a herdsman, Ali Haruna, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for destroying crops worth N1.5 million in a farm by an Ekiti State High Court.

Ruling on the matter, Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola said the case against established against Haruna has been probed beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.

Earlier, Haruna had been handed a-two-year jail term by Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Idowu Ayenimo on a two-count charge of malicious damage preferred against him.

Not satisfied with the ruling, Haruna through his lawyer, Mr Chris Omokhafe, had filed an appeal urging the High Court to set aside the conviction.

 

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