,,,,Benue records fresh attack,party says.
By Ijeoma Obioma.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Benúe State has urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to enforce the law banning open grazing in the state in order to avert the continuing attacks on citizens by armed invaders.
The State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Bemgba Iortyom, in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, condemned fresh attack on citizens, saying the incidents would not have occurred if the law banning open grazing in the state was still being enforced by Governor Alia.
Iortyom said that reports from the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital city, earlier on Monday indicating that suspected armed herders killed a number of persons and grievously injured several others during was worrisome.
He noted that the attack which occurred at Antsa Settlement area which is within the vicinity of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka Federal University of Agriculture and the Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic both in Makurdi, where students are currently in session was also disturbing.
“PDP finds it inexplicable that Governor Alia has tacitly suspended the enforcement of the ban on open grazing in the state which is still operative as a law, as doing so has directly resulted in the heavy influx of herdsmen and their cattle into both rural and urban areas of the state.
“The party is equally alarmed that, rather than work towards strengthening enforcement of the law, there had only last week emerged evidence that the governor had submitted a Bill before the Benue State House of Assembly seeking to have the law repealed.
“And, once again, the query is, why does Governor Alia want the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law (2017) repealed? Whose interests will it serve to have the law repealed – the herdsmen or Benue people?
“What antidote does Governor Alia have against herdsmen atrocities in Benue, considering that the marauding criminals are increasingly encroaching on the entire landmass of the state with no resistance being put in their way?
“The governor’s policy of silence over the atrocities of the pastoralists is another source of deep worry, as it serves to cover the crimes they commit against humanity while at the same time emboldening them as they see no wrong in their heinous crimes,,” he said.
The PDP official added, “It is alarming that suspected herdsmen can now strike and kill at will in Makurdi, the state capital city, a situation which loudly amplifies the grim fact that nowhere now in Benue State is safe under the watch of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“PDP calls on Governor Alia to come alive to the reality that Benue is under a siege which is closing in by the day, and he should take advantage of the disposition of the federal government towards stamping out insecurity and flush the killer herdsmen out of the state.”
Recall that the state government handed two weeks ultimatum which elapsed on March 6, 2024 to influx of herders grazing their animals openly in the state to exit, warning that it would begin to implement the grazing law on expiration of the ultimatum.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.
