The attention of Benue
State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been drawn to the quit notice reportedly
issued to herdsmen by the group called Middle Belt Renaissance Forum, and the
Governor states categorically as follows:
1. The Benue State
Government distances itself and the people of the state from the quit notice.
2. The said notice will
NOT have any impact or effect in Benue State and it should be disregarded by
all Benue people including Fulani herdsmen living in the state.
3. Security agencies
should investigate the matter and apprehend those behind the quit notice.
4. 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.
5. The law however does
NOT provide that herdsmen should leave Benue State. It 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.
Terver Akase
Chief Press Secretary
August 19, 2017.