Hundreds of women across the 23 local government areas of Benue State stormed Makurdi and marched round major streets in support of the new law prohibiting open grazing in the state.
Among them were elderly ones who appeared half nude as they marched to government house, Makurdi, chanting victory songs over the constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen with the new law.
The anti open grazing law took effect on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 across the state.
The women carried placards, some of which read: “Respect anti open grazing law,” “Governor Samuel Ortom, ahead ahead,” “We support anti open grazing law,” among others.
The women matched to the seat of power amid tight security.
ALSO READ: Anti Grazing Law: Benue people ask FG to make Sambisa forest available for herdsmen
The governor stated that the law was not initiated against any person but to protect lives and property of people of the state.
“We love everyone resident in Benue, including the Fulanis, but we cannot continue to live with killers who have no respect for human lives. This law is to the benefit of everybody as it would encourage economic activities as well as encourage the Fulanis to stay in one place and ranch their cows among other benefits.
“With the population of the state now, there is no land available for grazing, in the 50s, the population of Benue was within one million but now the population has moved to over eight million with all the portion of land occupied.”
“Those who wants to stay in Benue will be given enabling environment to carry out their businesses lawfully but those who don’t want the law can quietly exit the state, and we assure them that security will be provided for them to do so.”
Spokespersons of the women from the Tiv, Idoma and Igede areas of the state appreciated the governor for initiating the law and noted that women had always bore the attendant brunt of the Fulani attacks since 2012.
and then