Herders, farmers’ clashes: Ortom bans open grazing

By Kula Tersoo
Makurdi

Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday assented into law the anti-grazing and roaming of livestock Law 2017 passed by the House of Assembly.

He also signed the state anti-kidnapping and cultism Law 2017 into law.
Ortom while giving assent to the laws during the fourth stakeholders’ meeting held at Government House, Makurdi, the new anti-kidnapping law “will prevent the rising cases of adoption, kidnapping, hostage- taking and cult-related activities, clean-up the society and make Benue state conducive for investment to flourish.”
According to him, “anyone who kidnaps, abducts or tries to take another person by force shall be liable to sentenced to death, while anyone who gives himself as a commercial hostage shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction, sentence to 10 years in prison.
Ortom said “henceforth, any person who allows his premises to be used for the purpose of hostage-taking and other kidnapping activities shall be guilty of the offence and sentenced to death and the premises shall be forfeited to government without compensation.”

“Hear this very well, In case you make yourself artificial hostage and the law catch up with you, you shall be fine N10 million, while anyone who involved in act of terrorism shall be liable for imprisonment for 14 years.”
On the anti-grazing bill, the governor stated that “Where damage is done to the crops the farm will be evaluated and the manager of the livestock be compelled to pay.
He said movement of livestock on foot within the state “is now prohibited as any person who contravenes this shall be sentenced to one year imprisonment or pay a fine of N500, 000.”

The governor maintained that “any livestock owner or manager who carries fire arms shall be treated under the penal code, while all ranchers shall engage the services of security agencies.”
He said: “Any person who rustles cattle shall be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment or pay a fine of one hundred thousand per cow and livestock wandering shall be impounded by the department of livestock.
“Any livestock impounded and the owner not found shall be auctioned to the public and the proceeds be deposited into the state consolidated revenue account.”

According to the bill, “Nobody will be permitted to carryout open grazing outside the permitted ranches.
The said any person who contravene this act shall be guilty and upon conviction be sentenced to five years in prison with a fine of N1 million.
“Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government shall be apprehended and made to face the law. Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism.”

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