From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Residents of Benue State, especially the inhabitants of Guma Local Government Area, (LGA), have raided an alarm over heavy influx of herdsmen with their cattle grazing openly despite the state’s anti open grazing law being in place.
The residents who spoke to our correspondent, said herdsmen have flooded most parts of the state especially Guma, Logo, Agatu and Gwer West with their cattle.
According to them, while the herdsmen are causing mayhem, killing and maiming residents in places like Agatu and Otukpo LGAs causing panic among residents, others said the herdsmen are everywhere in their vicinity but are not causing harm yet.
They have therefore called on the government to take proactive action to forestall any eventualities.
A resident of Daudu, James Aondona, told our correspondent that the herdsmen are everywhere in their place grazing openly even in people’s houses.
“We are even afraid to say anything to them or stop them because we are afraid they might get angry and start attacking us. We think the state government should do something now especially before the farming season come.”
A native of Mbawa council ward, Mr Jonah, who said the herders are everywhere in his place added, “But they are not doing anything to anyone now. They came in with their wives and they have around the people.
Corroborating the story, the Security secretary of Guma LGA, Mr Christopher Waku, said the herdsmen are migrating into the state against the state’s directives.
Waku who stated that the anti open grazing law is still in place said he has written a security report to the state government urging them to take action.
Waku said “As you know, Benue state still has its law in place and as far as we know the law is still in force.
“We used to have Fulanis who we call resident Fulanis that respect these laws. But now that we are in the dry season, we have other Fulanis coming in from anywhere there is desert.
“As the Security secretary, I have written a security alert report to the security adviser to the Governor about the influx of cattle and Fulanis and some of them with sophisticated weapons. We have written the report so that the government will take proactive measures.
“It is important that the government do something about it since they have not started harming people but as I speak with you, the resident herders are not happy with those who are just coming in because definitely the grass will not be enough for them.
He clarified that the herders have not come because government have allowed them saying “they are just coming here on their own but we have alerted the government and since they have not started creating problems, we are also observing them.
“We are appealing to the government to take proactive measures. The law is there. If they can direct that they should go back, we will enforce it using security agencies,” Waku said.
Our correspondent also reports that the Tiv Area Traditional Council have equally expressed worry over the return of heavily armed herdsmen with their cattles running into thousands
The Council at an emergency meeting in the Tor Tiv Palace in Gboko, presided over by its President, Orcivirigh Prof James Ayatse, wondered why despite the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of the state still in force the herdsmen have returned and even this time with more dangerous weapons such as AK 49 and grazing recklessly.
Special Assistant to Tor Tiv on Media and ICT, Freddie Adamgbe, said the Council has appealed to the Benue State Government to direct relevant security agencies in the state to rise up to their task of defending the innocent poor citizens by enforcing the anti open grazing law of the state.