Following threats by the leadership of Miyetti Allah that they would mobilize their members to resist the anti- open grazing law,Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has called on President Muhammadu to call the herdsmen to order.
Speaking to State House Correspondents yesterday after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, he said threats by the Miyetti Allah to make the state ungovernable is unacceptable.
He assured the citizens of the state that he has directed the security agencies to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah, to serve as a deterrent to other trouble maker .
Ortom said “Well, I am a law abiding citizen and a governor, Benue people are law abiding that is why in the midst of the provocation from herdsmen attack, we took time to ensure that we put in place, sign it and we are going to start implementation 1st of November and we hope that people will comply.
“ And everyone in Benue State should appreciate the fact that it is the law that is giving us protection. It is the intention of this government to ensure that we give protection to lives and property through the rule of law. So, anyone staying in Benue State must comply. One thing I must say is that the law protects herdsmen and farmers.
“We are against cattle rustling, those who are caught will be penalized. Those who want to stay in Benue State and do cattle business must ranch their cattles, this is what we are saying. As far as we are concern, the law is not targeted at any individual, group of people of ethnic group, it is meant to protect everyone who is living in Benue State.
“Miyetti Allah has taken us to court and we are there with them. But I don’t see how they will come and over run Benue and make it ungovernable, it is not going to be accepted. We stand by what we have done, we have done our legitimate, lawful role as governor as citizens of the state, so, we don’t see how somebody will sit somewhere and say that we should not implement a law that has restored peace in our place.
by Jonathan Nda- Isaiah, Abuja and Hembadoon Orsar, Makurdi
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