‘40 attacks necessitated Benue’s grazing law’

Over 40 major and deadly attacks in 14 local government areas of Benue State by suspected herders within the space of three years necessitated the anti-open grazing law recently implemented in the state, leaders of socio-cultural groups in the state said yesterday.

The organisations are Mdzough U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Ominy’Igede, made the remark during a news conference in Makurdi in response to media comments credited to Myetti Allah Kautal Hore as denouncing the grazing law.

Spokesman for the forums, Engineer Edward Ujege, said that the masterminds of the law are the people and not the government of the state nor the politicians or religious leaders as falsely portrayed.

Ujege noted that the argument by the Kautal Hore’s leadership that the species of their cows were not good for ranching in the country without any scientific or empirical proofs to show were mere excuses.