Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has told cattle-owners in the state to properly ranch their animals to avoid open-grazing or be ready to face sanctions as stipulated by law.
The governor gave the warning on Thursday when he sighted a herd of cattle roaming the streets around Wadata area of Makurdi, the state capital.
Directing his Livestock Guards to immediately impound the animals and take them to the Quarantine Unit, Ortom invoked the ranching law, which provided that the cattle would be auctioned if the owner failed to pay the requisite fines after seven days.
According to him, the law does not accord preferences to any individual or group, whether or not they are Benue indigenes.
He added that herders who refuse to keep their livestock in ranches would be prosecuted in accordance with provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017.
The governor called on Benue people to volunteer information regarding open grazing to Livestock Guards, noting that officers of the agency would not be everywhere.
Meanwhile, the Tiv Youth Council (TYC) has called on Nigerians to garner support for President Muhammadu Buhari in his bid to secure the nation.
The president-general, Mike Msuaan, who made the call in Makurdi while briefing newsmen, however, lauded the army and other security agencies for restoring peace in Benue and Taraba states.
According to him, the timely and strategic intervention of the gallant army officers backed by other security agencies ensured that the crisis in the two states, which led to wanton destruction of lives and property was brought under full control.
His words: “The wild bandits, cattle rustlers, sponsored militia masquerading as cattle herders, and other grades of emerging terrorists have been effectively combated and subdued through a fine mix of military intelligence and strategic warfare.
“For this, the Tiv Youth Council cannot thank the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other security agencies involved in the peace-keeping enough,” he noted.
“We, therefore, call on all Nigerians to remain united and give the security agencies the full support needed in our collective interest.”
The Guardian
