GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has
distanced his state from the quit notice
slammed on Fulani herdsmen by a group
called Middle Belt Renaissance Forum.
According to the press statement issued by
the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State
governor, Mr Terver Akase a copy made
available to Tribune Online in Makurdi on
Saturday enjoined the people of the state to
disregard the quit notice saying, ‘the notice
will have no impact or effect in Benue State’.
The governor in the statement called on
security agencies to investigate the matter
and apprehend those behind the quit notice.
He said, ‘Benue State has enacted a law
prohibiting open grazing to pave way for the
establishment of ranches and the
implementation of the law is scheduled to
commence in November this year.
“The governor added that the law does not
provide that herdsmen should leave the state
but rather encourages herdsmen and any
other individual who wishes to rear livestock
in the state to do so within ranches.
“Governor Ortom urges the people of the
state to remain calm and go about their
normal businesses as anyone found to be
fomenting trouble on account of such a quit
notice will be arrested and brought to justice.
“He calls on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of
coexistence as the constitution allows all
nationals to reside anywhere in the country
provided they don’t constitute threat to
security.
“The Governor also emphasizes the need for
Nigerians to shun hate speeches capable of
plunging the nation into unnecessary crisis,”
the statement concluded.
It will be recalled that the group had in a
statement made by its convener, Jones Alfa
in Abuja early in the week gave October 1st
deadline to fulani herdsmen in middle belt
region.
States in middle belt region are; Benue,
Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Kwara,
Adamawa, Taraba and parts of Kaduna.
The group had anchored their stand on the
activities of the Fulani herdsmen in the region
which it said had caused too many pains,
agony and loss to the people of the region.
The herdsmen through their leaders, Alhaji
Jaoji Isa and Alhaji Garus Gololo from Taraba
and Benue states respectively had stated that
their members would not in any way leave
any part of the region