Governor Ortom arrests 150 cows his convoy ran into for wandering
The governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom, has decided to personally implement the state’s anti-grazing law by arresting 150 cows accused of roaming the streets.
According to reports, The governor, who was on an inspection tour, personally arrested the cows after running into them at Iniongun, Wadata area of Makurdi, the capital of the state. Vanguard reports that the visibly angry governor asked the livestock guards in the area to arrest the roaming cows for onward journey to a unit of the government. The law concerning ranching in the state states that the animals would be auctioned if the owner cannot meet the fines that would be imposed for violation within seven days. The governor, who warned livestock owners in the state against violation of the laws, added: “The Benue open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law, 2017 is no respecter of persons and does not accord preferences to any individual or group, whether or not they are Benue indigenes.” He said the Benue people should be made to pay more fines if they are found to have violated the law they made to foster peace between them and the herders. “Any herder whether from within or outside who refuse to keep their livestock in ranches would be prosecuted in accordance with provisions of the law,” the governor stressed. He also urged the people of the state to send useful information to those in charge of implementing the law to make it effective.
Related News
