A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State governor, Mr Terver Akase, on Saturday, enjoined the people of the state to disregard the order stating that “the notice will have no impact or effect in Benue State.”
The governor, in the statement, called on security agencies to investigate the matter and apprehend those behind the quit notice.
He said: “Benue State has enacted a law prohibiting open grazing to pave way for the establishment of ranches and the implementation of the law is scheduled to commence in November this year.
“The law does not provide that herdsmen should leave the state, but rather encourages herdsmen and any other individual, who wishes to rear livestock in the state, to do so within ranches.
“Governor Ortom urges the people of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as anyone found to be fomenting trouble on account of such quit notice will be arrested and brought to justice.
“He calls on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of coexistence as the constitution allows all nationals to reside anywhere in the country, provided they don’t constitute threat to security.
“The governor also emphasises the need for Nigerians to shun hate speeches capable of plunging the nation into unnecessary crisis,” the statement concluded.
It will be recalled that the group had, in a statement by its convener, Jones Alfa, in Abuja last week, gave an October 1 deadline to herdsmen in the Middle Belt region.
The group had anchored its stand on the activities of herdsmen in the region which it said had caused pain, agony and loss to the people of the region.
The herdsmen, through their leaders, Alhaji Jaoji Isa and Alhaji Garus Gololo from Taraba and Benue states respectively, had stated that their members would not leave any part of the region.
States in middle belt region are; Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Taraba and parts of Kaduna.
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