Ortom decries influx of 'armed herdsmen' into Benue

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has charged the state Livestock Guard to ensure that no herd of cattle seen openly grazing in any part of the state goes without being impounded.

The Governor who gave the charge in Makurdi on Friday, February 28, 2020, while inspecting impounded cows at the quarantine unit of the state Ministry of Agriculture said enforcement of the ranching law would continue to enable those who wish to do livestock business comply with its provisions.

He stated that there had been influx of armed herdsmen with large herds of animals into the state, despite the high level of awareness creation to the existence of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

The Governor stated that several herds of cattle had been impounded and quarantined in other local government areas in the state, pointing out that trucks have been acquired by government to help Livestock Guards convey impounded livestock from long distances to quarantine units for safe keeping.

He described the influx of the armed herdsmen as life threatening, saying such would not be condoned by his administration.

Governor Ortom said over four hundred herders have been arrested and are being prosecuted at various stages, pointing out that the herders destroy farm produce and even make harvested crops feeds for the cattle.

He insisted that there was no intention to repeal the ranching law, stressing that ranching remains the global best practice of animals husbandry and urged all Nigerians to key into it with a view to ensuring peace between herdsmen and farmers.

State Commander Livestock Guard, Linus Zaki, said their men had arrested three herdsmen during the recent operations.

Zaki added that 214 cattle have been impounded in Ukum LGA, 69 in Logo, 219 in Guma, 96 in Makurdi and 16 in Gwer West LGA.