The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, Monday, called on security agencies to arrest the national leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
The governor said this through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, hinged the call to the group’s open declaration of war with the people of Benue State.
Mr. Ortom said in their latest statements carried by the media, MACBAN’s National President, Abdulahi Bodejo, and National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan, have declared war on the people of the state.
“It is not the first time that National President of the group, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and its National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan have made inflammatory statements against the implementation of the anti-open grazing law of Benue State,” the governor said.
“Since the law came into being, he said officials of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore have embarked on legal action as well as all other forms of threats and smear campaign against Governor Samuel Ortom in a desperate bid to scuttle the implementation of the law which will commence on November 1 this year.
“The law is not against any individual or group. It is neither aimed at sending herdsmen out of Benue State.”
Rather, the governor said the new law permitted grazing of livestock only within ranches and prohibited the movement of animals from one destination to another in except by rail, trucks and other vehicles. He argued that the measure was taken as a permanent solution to the incessant clashes between farmers and herders with the attendant destruction of lives and property across the state.
Besides, the governor said the law also protects livestock and ranches and stipulated severe punishment for any person convicted for rustling cattle or any other animal kept in ranches.
Continuing, Mr. Ortom said, “Going by the misplaced outbursts of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, it is clear that the group has not bothered to read the law which has been published in national dailies or deliberately refused to understand the provisions of the law even after it was published.
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“The mention of Terwase Akwaza, alias Ghana, as an ally of Governor Ortom in the recent statements is also an indication that Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore officials are not familiar with the security situation in Benue State.
“If they were, they would have known that Ghana is not an ally of the governor as the man has since been declared wanted by security agencies over murder, cattle rustling and other criminal activities.”
The governor also debunked MACBAN’s allegation that that he has created six detention centres, saying the allegation is not only laughable but also betrayed the ignorance of the peddlers.
He, however, advised the group to embrace the idea of pilot ranches being considered by the government as a way of consolidating on the prevailing peace in the state.
Mr. Ortom drew the attention of security agencies to the repeated threats and inciting statements by cattle herders and demanded for their arrest to prevent them from breaching the existing peace in the state.
He argued, “The call by the group that herdsmen should converge on Benue come November clearly reveals their ulterior motive to invade Benue and inflict greater pain on innocent people.
“Security agencies need no further proof to effect the arrest than the group’s public declaration of war against the people of the state.
“No individual or group is above the law of the land. The anti-open grazing law initiated by the Benue State Government has been hailed by both local and international peace stakeholders as the best solution to the frequent crisis between herdsmen and farmers.
“We wish to make it abundantly clear to Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment of Ranches Law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation or name calling can stop its implementation,” the governor noted.
