Anti-grazing law: Herdsmen drag Benue govt to court

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said that the Miyeitti Allah Kautal Hore has dragged the state government to court over the enactment of anti-grazing law.

Ortom who spoke to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday said that the herdsmen were trying to thwart the anti-grazing law recently enacted by his administration.

He states that he was not disturbed by the step taken by cattle breeders who he said were seek to frustrate his peace efforts through legal means, positing that the state would slog it out with the group in court.

He explained that his administration followed due process in passing the law, saying “I am waiting for the courts to tell me that it is unlawful for me to initiate a bill for the law and send to the State House of Assembly.”

“Our administration believes in rule of law and we follow due process of the law in coming out with the anti-grazing law because I see it as my constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property of my people including those of the herdsmen.”

“Because the law seeks the establishment of ranches not just for cattle but for all livestock including pigs, goats and sheep.”

It will be recalled that the association had few days after governor Samuel Ortom assented to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment bill threatened to challenge the law in court.

The suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/527/2017 was instituted by Trustees of Miyeittii Allah Kautal Hore socio cultural association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodojo and Engineer Salleh Alhassan through their counsel, Aliyu Ahmed and associates.

Joint in the suits are: the National Assembly, Attorney General of Federation (AGF), Inspector General of Police (IGP), Benue State house of Assembly, Benue State Government and Benue Commissioner of Police.