Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has insisted that the ban placed on open grazing has come to stay, noting that recurring attacks on residents of the state won’t change the government decision.
Ortom said this Saturday during a media parley to celebrate his second year in office.
The governor said that the recurring attacks on residents of the state have prompted him to include the Vigilante groups to deal with gunmen and bandits.
He said that his administration has started recruitment to activate the Community Volunteer Guards Law enacted in 2000.
“A few weeks ago, Benue stakeholders met and gave this administration the mandate to activate and implement the Community Volunteer Guards Law enacted in 2000,” he said.
“We have already commenced the process of recruiting responsible people of 50 years and below into the Volunteer Guards.
“Their duty is to support the conventional security agencies in defending their communities. We have cried enough. We will cry no more. Now is time for action.
“Let me remind those who think that sustained attacks on the Benue people will force us to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law that they are making a mistake.
“This law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation can make us repeal it. Instead, we will soon amend the law in order to increase the penalties against offenders.”
Mr. Ortom signed anti-grazing law in May 2017.
