As dry season sets in, Miyetti Allah, Benue govt feud resurfaces

There seems to be no truce in sight as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the Benue State government are at loggerheads over the grazing of cows by herdsmen.

The state governor, Samuel Ortom had reminded Fulani herdsmen entering the state to obey an existing law prohibiting open grazing which state s that animals should not be transported into the state by foot.

Ortom who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase warned that there is a tendency for herdsmen, entering the state with cattle, to mistake farmland for open field as dry season sets in.

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The governor said, “Those herdsmen coming into the state from Mali or Niger, should ask their members, who are here, that there is a law on the ground and that the law stipulates that whoever wants to ranch or rear livestock in Benue has to obtain permit.”

Reacting to the governor’s comments the Benue State Coordinator of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Garus Gololo, called on Ortom to see to issues concerning farmers and hersdmen in the state.

He said the much-talked-about anti-open grazing law had not made any provision for where to rear livestock and also added that the governor had not put a proper law in place that would address the farmers and herdsmen crisis.

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