Ortom disagrees with defence minister over herdsmen crises and anti-grazing law
- Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue says the implementation of the anti-grazing law is not the reason for escalating herdsmen, farmers' clashes in the state
- Ortom listed other states which have not implemented the law but are also faced with similar clashes
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue has argued that the recent implementation of the anti-grazing law of 2017 in the state is not the reason behind the escalating herdsmen and farmers crises as allegedly claimed by a top government official.
Channels Television reports that Governor Ortom said comments allegedly attributed to Mansur Dan Ali, defence minister, that the anti-grazing law is the reason for escalated violence, may not help the victims of the attacks.
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“Well, it is unfortunate but I want to console myself that this thing is not coming from the Honourable Minister, but if it did, I will say that it is very unfortunate.
“The solution to the security challenges we have in this country is not in sight having those kind of people in power who are not able to give quality advice and to also proffer solutions to the security problems we have here.
“Take for instance, if you say it is because of the law that killings by herdsmen are going on in Benue, is there any law prohibiting open grazing in Adamawa state?
“Is there any law in Plateau State? Is there any law in Kaduna, Ondo, Bayelsa, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta or Edo States? In Edo state, cattle have taken over even schools,” the governor reportedly said on Friday, January 26.
“The other day, a report came from DSS that the ISIS terrorist group organisation is taking over and I also heard that the minister was quoted as saying we should accommodate foreigners; foreigners who come here illegally should be accommodated?
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“So if a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is coming out to encourage our citizens to do illegal things, I now begin to see why they have given immunity that is the prerogative of the president and the vice president, governors and deputy governors to herdsmen who kill and even cattle.
“Cattle in Nigeria have immunity more than human beings. This is unfortunate and I look forward that he will apologise to us and retract what he said because it is an insult on our collective leadership. It is wrong and let the minister know that,” he reportedly stated.
Legit.ng earlier reported how Mansur Dan-Ali allegedly blamed the implementation of anti-grazing law in some states as the immediate cause of the killings in Benue and Taraba states.
Dan-Ali made the statement on Thursday, January 25, when speaking with journalists at the end of a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.
He said the blockage of grazing routes across the country led to the violence witnessed in some states.
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Source: Legit.ng
