Kaduna—The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has described the anti-open grazing law recently passed by Benue State government as a time bomb, and called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to protect Fulani living in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna at the end of its North-Western region zonal meeting, the group said the law was targeted at destroying the means of livelihood of herdsmen, who have grazed in the Benue valley for ages.
National President of the Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo, stressed that the anti-grazing law was not in the best interest of peaceful coexistence of herdsmen and other citizens of the country.
His words: “The grazing law agenda is destroying herders’ means of livelihood and we are appealing for immediate intervention to save Fulani pastoralists from the total destruction of their means of livelihood by current trends from some state governors enacting segregational anti-grazing law.”
Denies plans to attack Benue communities
Bodejo, however, debunked reports that there were plans by the herdsmen to attack Benue communities, stressing that Fulani were peaceful and law-abiding citizens, who will not do anything to truncate peaceful coexistence.
Bodejo said: “At the end of the North-West meeting, after series of deliberations, we are completely opposed to the anti-grazing law, and we are worried on the possible crisis that may emerge, if such laws are allowed to take effect.
“It is a negative law because it attempts to expel Fulani herdsmen from areas they have been grazing for ages. Besides, no herder were involved during the preparation of Benue grazing law.
“To us, ensuring security of citizens should be the priority of governance, but this anti-grazing law is nothing but a time bomb if not addressed with wisdom.”We will continue to support Federal Government’s policies on crop and animal farming, particularly on the agro-rangers, which is aimed at providing security for all categories of farmers.
“We are, therefore, appealing to Ibrahim Idris to provide security for Fulani herdsmen against all forms of threat occasioned by the anti-grazing law.”
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