Says no regret over the ranching law
Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Benue State Government said it has lost over N400 billion worth of property to renewed militia herdsmen attacks on communities in between 2015 and 2018.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who disclosed this when he briefed newsmen on the achievements and challenges of his administration in three years, at Government House, in Makurdi, said the estimate was arrived at following preliminary report of assessment of damages caused by the crisis.
He said the continued herdsmen attacks on the state has caused untold hardship on every resident either directly or indirectly adding that the loss is much and difficult to recover from.
He insisted that the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 is the peoples legislation.
“I have no regret. Why should I have any regret doing the will of my people? They trusted me and gave me their votes and I will not betray what they want. I’m doing what they want and I’ve no regret,” the governor stated.
He commended his colleagues from Ekiti, Taraba and Abia States for keying into the ranching law, saying it is the right way to go even as he called on Nigerians with a better alternative to bring it on the table to find a lasting solution to farmers and herdsmen crisis in the country.
Ortom challenged the Defence Minister, Dan-Masur Ali, to come out and tell Nigerians why there are killings in Zamfara, his home State and other states in the country, like Kaduna, Adamawa, Plateau, Enugu and Kogi, among others, where there is no anti-open grazing law. He also want the minister to apologise to Nigerians over his comments.