Benue suspends enforcement of anti-open grazing law for two weeks

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The Benue State Government has suspended the operations of the livestock guards, the state paramilitary agency tasked with enforcing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 for two weeks in order to allow all herdsmen with livestock in Benue territory to leave.

Governor Samuel Ortom revealed this at the end of a state security council meeting following the killing of over 130 people in one week.

The move is intended to show mercy to all those who claim to have entered the state unaware that there is a law prohibiting open grazing.

He also said security agencies in the state has confirmed the receipt of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to fish out perpetrators of the mass killings across the state, a duty he said the security agencies should act fast on to bring victims of the attack some form of justice.