BENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday said he has received threat messages from Fulani herdsmen over the open grazing law recently enacted by his administration.
Ortom stated this when he addressed members of National Council of Tiv Youths who protested at the state Government House, recent “outburst and unguided utterances against Tiv nation and indigenes of Benue State” by leaders of Fulani cattle rearers.
The governor said he would not be intimidated by the threat, adding that the law has come to stay.
He said the full implementation of the law would commence in November.
Governor Ortom had few weeks ago signed the open grazing bill passed by the state House of Assembly. The law prohibits open grazing of cattle and livestock.
He said the enactment of the law followed constant attacks on farmers in the state.
Ortom said: “Just this morning (Wednesday) one Fulani herdsman called my wife and asked her to warn me that I am joking with them. But my response when my wife told me is that I am not joking. This law has come to stay.’
“I challenge anyone who has superior solution to the senseless killings of our people other than anti-open grazing law to bring it forward before the passage of the bill by the House of Assembly. Due process was followed, every nationality living in the state, the Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas/Fulanis and others were invited to the public hearing.”
