Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has condemned in its entirety, the recent call by a group on Fulani Herdsmen to quit the state.
A group known as Middle Belt Renaissance Forum, had issued a statement, calling on the herdsmen to vacate the state or face a sniff confrontation from the youths.
In a reaction from the Governor, which was made available to newsmen on Saturday, the State Government distanced itself and the people of the state from the quit notice.
The statement as signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, said the quit notice would not have any impact or effect in Benue State, adding that it should be disregarded by all Benue people including Fulani herdsmen living in the state.
The Governor called on Security agencies to investigate the matter and apprehend those behind the quit notice.
“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 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”, the statement read in part.
Governor Ortom urged the people to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as anyone found to be fomenting trouble on account of such a quit notice would be arrested and brought to justice.
He called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of coexistence, saying, the constitution allowed all nationals to reside anywhere in the country, provided they don’t constitute threat to security.
The Governor also emphasized the need for Nigerians to shun hate speeches capable of plunging the nation into unnecessary crisis.
Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has condemned in its entirety, the recent call by a group on Fulani Herdsmen to quit the state.
A group known as Middle Belt Renaissance Forum, had issued a statement, calling on the herdsmen to vacate the state or face a sniff confrontation from the youths.
In a reaction from the Governor, which was made available to newsmen on Saturday, the State Government distanced itself and the people of the state from the quit notice.
The statement as signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, said the quit notice would not have any impact or effect in Benue State, adding that it should be disregarded by all Benue people including Fulani herdsmen living in the state.
The Governor called on Security agencies to investigate the matter and apprehend those behind the quit notice.
“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 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”, the statement read in part.
Governor Ortom urged the people to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as anyone found to be fomenting trouble on account of such a quit notice would be arrested and brought to justice.
He called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of coexistence, saying, the constitution allowed all nationals to reside anywhere in the country, provided they don’t constitute threat to security.
The Governor also emphasized the need for Nigerians to shun hate speeches capable of plunging the nation into unnecessary crisis.
