Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore on
Saturday apologised to Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom over the
attacks and killings of people of the state by herdsmen.
Issuing the apology on behalf of the association was the
National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan.
Alhassan, who spoke at a peace meeting held in Makurdi pledged
to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen in the
state.
In a press statement issued at the end of the meeting by the
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, it was
revealed that the peace initiative was brokered by the Chairman of
Air Peace, Allen Onyema.
Part of the statement read, “The Miyeitti Allah scribe described
Governor Ortom as a peace-loving man who stood firmly for the
emancipation of his people.
“Alhasan gave assurance that members of the group would embrace
the peace initiatives put forward by the Governor.”
The statement added that Governor Ortom told the Miyeitti Allah
group that the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and
Ranches Establishment Law by Benue State Government was to end the
killing of innocent people and encourage ranching as the global
best practice for animal husbandry.
Ortom stated that any person or ethnic group wishing to rear
livestock in the state was free to acquire land and do so according
to provisions of the ranching law of the state.
The Governor noted that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches
Establishment Law protects both farmers and livestock owners,
adding that legislation was not meant to promote crisis of any
kind.
Onyema had earlier emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence
between farmers and herders in Benue State, saying he personally
brought Alhassan to broker peace between the Miyetti Allah group
and the people of the state.
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