Benue Security Advisers insist on full enforcement of anti-open grazing laws

The two security advisers to the governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia on Internal and External Affairs, Joseph Har and Col. Alex Igbaya, all retired, respectively, have insisted that the anti-open grazing laws of the state are fully enforced.

The governor’s aides stated this on Wednesday while speaking to newsmen about the influx of Fulani herdsmen and their cattle across the state.

Har, who is the security adviser on internal affairs, stated emphatically that no part of the state will be ceded to the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.

According to him, the governor’s security chiefs were not resting in their oars to halt the security challenges confronting the state.

He said, “No part of Benue will be ceded. It is better to do something strategically than something that you cannot contain. So, strategically, we are handling this matter, and you are going to see the results very soon.

He disclosed that there is a plan to meet with the Miyetti Allah anytime this week, where they will declare in clear terms that the anti-open grazing laws of the state are fully enforced.

According to Har, “By Thursday, we are going to have a robust meeting of all cattle rearers in Benue State and we will read the riot act, We are going to let them know that the anti-open grazing law of the state has not been repealed and anyone who was to do cattle business in the state must do it according to the law

“It is not about Fulani, but it is about anyone, irrespective of your tribe. Remember, we have been talking about the carrot-and-stick approach?

“The carrot approach is what we have been doing to tell people that the state is not open to open grazing. Now that they have taken it as a sign of weakness, it is time to read the riot act.

Earlier, the Special Adviser on Security and External Affairs and Strategy, retired Col. Igbaya, stated that the conventional security operatives in the state have been intimated about the influx of herdsmen in the state.

Consequently, Igbaya added that telephone numbers were developed and sent to all the communities across the state, which would help them provide useful information to security chiefs to promptly curtail any act of criminality.

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