Benue Security Council Asked Herders, Armed Invaders to Leave Benue State within Two Weeks

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Benue State Security Council has given a two week’s ultimatum to people operating open grazing within the state to comply with the State’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Law (2017), insisting that the law is still in force in the state.

They also called on herders/invaders to immediately leave the state and return to where they came from, warning those who invited them to immediately desist from the act.

These were part of the resolutions reached at the end of the state security meeting held at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Benue State, Mr. Tersoo Kula, said that the council also constituted a seven man committee to ensure the enforcement of the ultimatum, which commenced yesterday, Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

The council called on the good people of the state to remain calm and security conscious as the state government is making efforts to secure the lives and property of the people of the state.

It, however, tasked security agencies, traditional rulers and the general public to report for persecution, any person who is in the habit of collaborating and inviting the armed herders into the state.

On the hardship and looming food insecurity across the nation, the council, according to Kula, urged the people of Benue State to remain calm as efforts are being put in place by the government to address the challenge.