Council was worried by the recent influx of cattle and wants the herders to take note that the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law of the state is still in force
Benue State government has issued a two-week ultimatum to people operating open grazing within the state, including Fulani herdsmen and armed invaders to comply with the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law 2017 of the state or leave immediately.
Briefing journalists after the state security council meeting held, Tuesday, at government house Makurdi, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula, said council was worried by the recent influx of cattle and wants the herders to take note that the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law of the state is still in force.
Other parts of the resolutions, the chief press secretary disclosed that council has constituted a seven member committee to ensure the enforcement of the ultimatum which begins on February 21 and advised the herders and invaders to immediately leave the state and return to wherever they were coming from and warned those alleged to have invited them to desist from the act immediately.
The security council, according to Mr Kula, urged security agencies, traditional rulers and the general public to report for prosecution any person or persons in the habit of collaborating and inviting the armed herders into the state and called on the good people of the state to remain calm and be security conscious.
The chief press secretary who said the security council lamented the hardship and looming food insecurity across the nation, assured the people that the state government is making efforts to secure lives and property of Benue people and urged them to remain calm as efforts are being put in place by the government to address the challenges.