The state passed the anti-grazing
law in May 2017 and it took effect in November.
The law, among other things,
prohibits the movement of livestock on foot within the state.
Since its implementation, it has
generated controversy among the parties involved. Miyetti Allah had rejected
the law, describing it as a time bomb.
But Ortom, in an interview with
Vanguard, said MACBAN has finally accepted it.
“I think that, in Benue, we are
winning because Miyetti Allah and MACABAN have accepted that ranching remains
the best option to rear cattle,” Ortom said.
“And we commend them and we will
work with them to see how our law can wear human face to ensure that we have a
win-win for all.
“The 20 million cattle in Nigeria
cannot cope with open grazing…So, we must adopt global best practices and
modern ways of animal husbandry. This will go a long way in helping us.”
Asked if there has been any
improvement in the security situation in the state since President Muhammadu
Buhari visited, Ortom said some arrests have been made.
“Well, there have some killings
in flash points by these militia groups but security men are doing their best
and some arrests have been made by them,” he said.
“I believe we will overcome at
the end of the day. If not for the presence of security men, the situation
would have really been worse than what we have today.”
Commenting on the statement by
Theophilus Danjuma, ex-army chief, who asked Nigerians to defend themselves
against killers, Ortom said he was misinterpreted.
He said self-defence does not
necessarily have to involve the use of arms.
“I am not sure that if you
listened to him very well. It is a misrepresentation of what the former
minister said,” he said.
“He did not tell anybody to take
up arms. He only said that people should defend themselves. You can use a stick
to disarm someone. Of course, you know that self-preservation is the first law
of nature.
“You can’t just wait in your
house and allow someone to come and kill you. You can resist the person, but
you don’t necessarily need to have arms and I think that that was what the
former army chief and defence minister was saying, that there is need for
people to rise to defend themselves but not necessarily using weapons that are
banned.
“Security matters should not be
left in the hands of security men, it requires every one of us to put heads
together and be courageous to be able to surmount it.”
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