Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has attributed the challenges in enforcing the state’s anti-open grazing law to its status as a state-level legislation rather than a federal one.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, in
response to a statement issued by the Benue Advocacy Network, the governor said
the law would be more effective if it received nationwide adoption, enabling
federal enforcement mechanisms to back it.
The Benue Advocacy Network, led by its president Enoch
Ortese, had earlier expressed concern over the continued insecurity in rural
areas, particularly the sustained attacks by armed herders, despite the
existence of the anti-open grazing law. The group’s statement, released to
journalists in Makurdi on Sunday, also criticized the governor’s handling of
governance, transparency, and security issues.
They raised questions about the surge in internally
displaced persons (IDPs), contrary to Alia’s campaign pledge to return them to
their communities within his first 100 days in office.
The group further accused the administration of failing to
complete or inaugurate any developmental project in the past two years, and of
not clearing outstanding salary arrears owed civil servants.
The network also demanded full transparency in the state’s
financial dealings, including publication of revenue inflows and expenditures,
disclosure of contract awards and associated costs, and clarification on the
continued lack of autonomy for local government councils.
Responding, Tersoo emphasized the governor’s openness about
the difficulties surrounding the anti-open grazing law’s implementation. He
revealed that enforcement is hampered because the Benue State Community Volunteer
Guards (BSCVG), tasked with enforcing the law, are restricted to using basic
weapons, while armed herdsmen operate with assault rifles.
“These herders are guarded by militias carrying AK-47 and
AK-49 rifles while grazing,” Tersoo stated.
“Even trained Mobile Police officers have lost their lives
confronting them. So how do you expect the unarmed Community Guards to match
such threats?”
He noted that only federal security personnel have the
authority to carry sophisticated arms, stressing that a law of such
significance should be backed by federal legislation to ensure effective
enforcement across state lines.
“Picture a scenario where our guards confront offenders, but
the herders simply cross into Nasarawa State, which has no similar law. What can
we realistically do in that case?” The governor asked.
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