No going back on anti-grazing law – Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom said yesterday that the anti-grazing law passed by the Benue State House of Assembly has come to stay for good, and that whoever contravenes it from November this year will end up in jail.

Ortom, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, said the new law was not against any group of people, adding that those criticising the documents did not even spare time to study the content and that they had failed to proffer better option that would bring an end to farmers-herders conflicts.

He said Benue State government would be willing to provide land for ranching for willing herders, including adequate protection for those who want to leave the state if they are not willing to comply.

Ortom, however, affirmed that there would no longer be empty fields for grazing of all categories of animals, including cow, sheep or pigs, saying that was the standard practice in advanced countries and that Nigeria must embrace reality.

“I had promised I was going to sign the anti-grazing bill into law and we successfully did this in May, and it was before the entire stakeholders of Benue State, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliation.

“It was well received and since then, I’ve been receiving various delegations from across the state to appreciate and stand with us, especially in the wake of a threat from Miyetti Allah, that they would mobilize their members to resist the bill.

“In fact, the estimated eight million people of Benue State, all of them are in support apart from one man, Abubakar Tsav, who came out to criticise the bill. We’re not surprise because he is an enemy of progress,” he said.

Ortom said the youths were also in support of government over the matter.

“They assured me that they are going to stand with my government and also gave me a letter to submit to the acting president to call Miyetti Allah to order.

“If they live in a lawless world, Benue State believes in the rule of law and they must learn to observe it; that is the only thing that protects us.

“And that law provides security for herdsmen, for cattle, for everyone irrespective of where you come from. So, there is no point inciting people to disobey the law. If you disobey the law, it will catch up with you and that’s why I’m constructing a cell for the Nigerian Prisons in Makurdi. Those people who disobey the law should be in that cell; they shouldn’t be outside,” he said.