- Governor Samuel Ortom alleges that he has been receiving death threats over the passage of the anti-open grazing law in Benue state
- Ortom says the constant attacks on farmers in the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen necessitated the passage of the law
- The governor states that the implementation of the law would take place latest November 2017
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has alleged that some persons of Fulani origin are threatening to kill him over the anti-open grazing law recently enacted by his administration.
The governor however said he would not be coward by the threats from the Funlani, noting that that anti-grazing law would commence implementation latest November 2017, Vanguard reports.
Ortom made the statement at the government on Wednesday, June 13, when he addressed members of National Council of Tiv Youths who protested to government house over what they described as ‘outburst and unguided utterances against Tiv nation and the Indigenes of Benue state by leaders of Fulani cattle rearers’.
The governor said the constant attacks on farmers in the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen, necessitated the law, adding that he has the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property of residents of his state.
He said: “Just this morning (Wednesday) one Fulani called my wife and asked her to warn me that I (Ortom) am joking with them (Fulani), but my response when my wife told me this, is that am not joking, this law has come to stay.
“I challenge anyone who has superior solution to the senseless killings of our people other than anti-open grazing law should bring it forward, before the passage of the bill by House of Assembly, due process was followed, every nationality living in the state; the Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas/Fulanis and others were invited to the public hearing”.
“Whoever chooses to live in Benue must obey the law of the land, there is no grazing in Benue, I was elected to protect lives and property of every resident of the state, not to preside over dead people”
The governor expressed the confidence the law would help ensure that peace returned to the state.
In another related development,herdsmen in Taraba state are threatening breakdown of law if the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranchers Establishment Bill 2017 bill is passed.
The association tagged the bill as a plot to subdue the Fulani tribe and also to undermine and restrict activities of the Fulani tribe in the state.
The state’s chairman of Miyeti Allah, Sahabi Tukur, in a message read by Alhaji Adamu Azo at the gate of the Taraba state House of Assembly, warned that its members would resort to breakdown of law and order, should the House pass the bill into law.
Speaking before the speaker, Peter Diah, and other members of House, the association told the legislators to kill the bill in the collective interest of the people of the state.
The state’s chairman of Miyeti Allah, Sahabi Tukur, in a message read by Alhaji Adamu Azo at the gate of the Taraba state House of Assembly, warned that its members would resort to breakdown of law and order, should the House pass the bill into law.
Speaking before the speaker, Peter Diah, and other members of House, the association told the legislators to kill the bill in the collective interest of the people of the state.
Sebkeyzblog .com goes to Southern Kaduna, where residents tell how herdsmen prevented them from getting Red Cross relief materials
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