Anti-Grazing law: Tension mounts in Benue

Tension is currently  heightened across Benue State, 72 hours before the  enforcement  of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017 popularly known as anti-open grazing law.

Investigation by Sunday Tribune revealed that since the alarm raised by a socio- cultural group in the state of an alleged plot to attack farmers,  palpable fear has gripped both farmers and herdsmen in the state.
While  some of the farmers told our correspondent in Makurdi that the alarm should not be taken with levity, the herdsmen said they had concluded arrangement to vacate the state.
Calls made to local farmers in Agatu, Logo, Kwande, KatsinaAla, Guma and Buruku local government areas (flash points in the state)  revealed unease among the farmers and herdsmen.
Some of the farmers who spoke to our correspondent said that they were not taking  the threat with a pinch of salt, stressing that it had become an annual ritual for herdsmen to attack Benue farmers during dry season.
A farmer, Chief Tony Kajo, who spoke to our correspondent from Katsina Ala said, “we all know that the herdsmen have turned Benue to battle zone in their quest to feed their cattle and this has been happening during dry season since 2012.
“Though we are aware of the planned attack on Benue, following the alarm raised by our leaders, in-asmuch as the threat had  sent jitters  down the spine of some of us, we strongly believe in God to take absolute control using our state governor, Ortom through the new law.”
Also speaking,  Inalegwu Audu from Agatu Local Government Area of the state hinted that the people of the community did not take  the threat lightly. “Our appeal is that President Buhari should fortify the borders not to allow  the infiltration of foreign Fulani herdsmen into the state  through Cameroon and Niger Republic,” he said.

The state chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Comrade AondoanaHembe, however, submitted that Fulani herdsmen would not dare attack the state again,  hinging his argument on the new law which prohibits open grazing, “With the anti-open grazing law, we farmers are no longer scared  of Fulani herdsmen because their leadership came to the state and embraced the new law.”
However, the state commissioner of police, Mr Bashir Makama said he was not aware of any threat to attack the state as being canvassed by a pan-socio-cultural group adding that the new anti- grazing law was meant to take care of everybody.
He noted that the implementors of the law were in the best position to tell the public the level of their preparedness to enforce the law.
Meanwhile, indigenous Fulani herdsmen in the state had concluded plan to vacate the state following the commencement over the anti open grazing law.
Speaking exclusively to Sunday Tribune on Friday, national coordinator, Miyeittii Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Garus Gololo, said that all Fulani herdsmen resident in Benue State have concluded arrangement to relocate.
Gololo noted that contrary to  impression given by the state government that the new law was not against herdsmen, “I can tell you categorically that it is untrue, the real intention of the law is to drive we Fulani out of The state and we are going for good.”
The national coordinator predicated his argument on non readiness of the state government to make adequate provision for cattle ranches.