Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has blamed the ineffective enforcement of the state’s 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law on the absence of national backing and limited security capacity at the state level.
In a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, on Sunday, Alia responded to criticism from the Benue Advocacy Network, which questioned the governor’s handling of rising insecurity and herder attacks across rural communities.
NAIJABLOGDAILY.COM
According to Tersoo, the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, the agency tasked with implementing the anti-open grazing law, lacks the firepower to confront armed herders and militias, many of whom carry AK-47 and AK-49 rifles.
“The guards are only allowed to carry licensed firearms, while the Fulani herders are protected by heavily armed militias. Even mobile police officers have been killed in such confrontations. How can we expect our unarmed guards to enforce the law?” he asked.
Need for Federal Legislation and Security Support
Governor Alia emphasized that true enforcement of the anti-open grazing law would only be possible if it were adopted as a national policy, thereby empowering federal security agencies to step in and enforce the law across state boundaries.
“When our guards try to enforce the law and the herders simply move into Nasarawa State where the law does not apply — what can we do?” he added.
The governor’s response follows a strongly worded open letter from the Benue Advocacy Network, titled “Questions Governor Alia Is Yet to Answer,” signed by its President, Enoch Ortese.
Advocacy Network Slams Alia’s Performance on Security, IDPs
The group condemned the governor’s handling of growing insecurity, particularly the continued displacement of rural communities by armed herders. They criticized the administration for building more IDP camps instead of returning displaced persons to their ancestral homes — a major campaign promise of Alia’s.
- “Instead of resettling IDPs within the first 100 days as promised, the governor is constructing more camps and tents,” the statement read.
They also raised concerns over:
- Lack of transparency in the state’s financial management
- Awarding of contracts without public disclosure
- Absence of any major infrastructure projects completed in the past two years
HEED: Follow us on Instagram or any other social media platform and get the most reliable news directly in your favourite app!
“What has become of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017? Why are herders increasingly taking over Benue communities with no government resistance? The people deserve answers,” the group demanded.
Alia Defends Administration’s Achievements
In response, Governor Alia noted that Benue State’s financial records are publicly available at the Budget Office. He also stated that his administration has successfully cleared six out of seven months of salary arrears inherited from the previous government.
NaijaBlogDaily# is visible on all social media platforms, and we bring you the latest Nigerian news on politics and economy, entertainment, and celebrity updates, including sports across Nigeria and beyond…
Keep visiting and following up with us on any social media platform you are using to keep you updated 💯
Remember (information brings knowledge and power).
STAY TUNED!!!
