Ortom on bloodshed in Benue: enough

*Ortom: enough of bloodshed in Benue
*Confiscated livestock to be auctioned

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has decried the incessant
bloodshed in the state following the recurring herdsmen attacks on
farmers.

He spoke yesterday at St. Bernard Primary School, Ugwu-Okpoga,
Okpokwu Local Government Area, at the burial of 26 victims of
herdsmen attacks in Omusu and Okana communities.

Ortom reiterated his call on security agencies to arrest the
leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, whom he said were the
sponsors of the attacks, following the statements credited to
them.

The governor also reiterated that the Open Grazing Prohibition
and Ranches Establishment Law had come to stay, noting that there
was no land for open grazing and crop farming to go on
concurrently.

He assured the people that his administration would continue to
respond swiftly to security challenges, adding that data was being
gathered for compensation plans.

Deputy Governor Benson Abouno; Deputy Speaker of the House of
Assembly James Okefe; Rev. Fr. John Attah (who represented Bishop
Apochi), among others, thanked Ortom for his support to the
bereaved families. They also pledged their support for the ranching
law.

In his sermon, state Chairman of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Akpen Leva prayed God to grant the governor and
the people the strength to overcome the menace.

The government has directed its Ministry of Finance to appoint a
registered auctioneer to auction livestock confiscated in violation
of the Anti-Open Grazing Law 2017.

The Commissioner for Information, Lawrence Onoja, briefed
reporters after the state Executive Council meeting yesterday.

Onoja said the animals were confiscated from their owners for
violating the subsisting law against open grazing, adding that they
were given till March 19 to pay stipulated fines to the Ministry of
Agriculture to claim their animals or risk them to auctioning as
from March 20.

The council approved the release of N261 million as counterpart
fund for International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
programme, and also approved the constitution of the state Debt
Management Committee.

*Ortom: enough of bloodshed in Benue
*Confiscated livestock to be auctioned

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has decried the incessant
bloodshed in the state following the recurring herdsmen attacks on
farmers.

He spoke yesterday at St. Bernard Primary School, Ugwu-Okpoga,
Okpokwu Local Government Area, at the burial of 26 victims of
herdsmen attacks in Omusu and Okana communities.

Ortom reiterated his call on security agencies to arrest the
leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, whom he said were the
sponsors of the attacks, following the statements credited to
them.

The governor also reiterated that the Open Grazing Prohibition
and Ranches Establishment Law had come to stay, noting that there
was no land for open grazing and crop farming to go on
concurrently.

He assured the people that his administration would continue to
respond swiftly to security challenges, adding that data was being
gathered for compensation plans.

Deputy Governor Benson Abouno; Deputy Speaker of the House of
Assembly James Okefe; Rev. Fr. John Attah (who represented Bishop
Apochi), among others, thanked Ortom for his support to the
bereaved families. They also pledged their support for the ranching
law.

In his sermon, state Chairman of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Akpen Leva prayed God to grant the governor and
the people the strength to overcome the menace.

The government has directed its Ministry of Finance to appoint a
registered auctioneer to auction livestock confiscated in violation
of the Anti-Open Grazing Law 2017.

The Commissioner for Information, Lawrence Onoja, briefed
reporters after the state Executive Council meeting yesterday.

Onoja said the animals were confiscated from their owners for
violating the subsisting law against open grazing, adding that they
were given till March 19 to pay stipulated fines to the Ministry of
Agriculture to claim their animals or risk them to auctioning as
from March 20.

The council approved the release of N261 million as counterpart
fund for International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
programme, and also approved the constitution of the state Debt
Management Committee.