Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has assented to an amendment to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the State 2017 to provide stiffer penalties to offenders.
Following the amendment, anyone whose cow, pig, sheep, goat or bird is impounded will now pay fines ranging from N50,000, N10,000, N5,000 and N1,000 respectively per cow, pig, sheep or goat and bird for violating the ranching law.
The amendment also provides that when the impounded animals are not claimed by the owner within 24 hours, he or she will pay an additional fine of N20,000 per cow per day, N1,000 per pig per day, N500 per sheep or goat per day and N100 per bird or poultry per day.
Section (8) of the amended law also provides that “any person who employs, hires or involves a child to commit an offence under the ranching law shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to 14 years imprisonment or N5 million fine or both.”
According to section (5) as amended, “any person found moving livestock on foot within or across urban centres, rural settlements or any part of the state or owner of those livestock or manager of a ranch from where the livestock emanates, commits an offence and is liable to:
“For the fist offender, a fine of N500,000 and subsequent offender, a fine of N1,000,000 and for the owner of the livestock or manager of the ranch, a fine of N500,000 or one year imprisonment.”
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Governor Ortom while giving his assent said it was discovered that there was a lacuna in the law which he noted came as a “child of necessity, following killings, maiming and destruction of villages by militia herdsmen leading to the displacement of over 1.5 million persons.”
He commended members of the state assembly for their commitment and speedy attention given to the day and pledge to continue to do his part to ensure security of all lives and property in the state.
Earlier, Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Titus Uba, who presented the amendments for the Governor’s assent said it will make the law stronger and more effective.
He urged the Benue people to support state government to ascertain that the law is fully implemented.