We’ll not surrender to Fulani herdsmen — ORTOM

MAKURDI—Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, has
declared that his administration will not surrender the
state to the invading Fulani herdsmen, following
unending attacks on Benue communities by herdsmen.

The Governor who lamented that the activities of the
herdsmen were hindering farming in the state said the
government would not give out its land to herdsmen for
open grazing.

Ortom who spoke in Makurdi, at the end of the Town
Hall Meeting he held with stakeholders in the three
senatorial zones of the state, said the government
would continue to support those who were prepared to
ranch their cattle in the state.

He said the decision of the state government to enact
a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle was borne out
of the commitment of his administration to end
frequent invasion of the state by herdsmen.

Governor Ortom said agriculture remained the biggest
industry in the state, noting that available land in the
state could not accommodate farming and cattle
grazing at the same time.

He regretted the lives being lost in several Benue
communities due to the activities of herdsmen,
stressing that the administration was working round the
clock to ensure that peace reigned across the state.

Governor Ortom said, “I have made it clear that we will
not surrender Benue to herdsmen. We are saying that
we do not have land for grazing. Though we are ready
to support those that are prepared to ranch their cows
but for those involved in open grazing should find other
states because with the new law that would soon
come into effect, that practice will not be acceptable
in Benue State.”