Some Benue State women drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state marched round major roads the state capital, Makurdi, on Thursday to protest in support of the new law prohibiting open grazing in the state.
The women, including middle aged, young women and half naked elderly ones walked through the streets of Makurdi chanting solidarity songs to express joy and support for the anti-open grazing law of the Governor Samuel Ortom-led administration.
The women armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “Respect anti-open grazing law,” “Governor Samuel Ortom, go ahead go ahead,” and “We support Anti-Open Grazing Law” matched to the Government House amidst tight security.
Ortom and his wife, Eunice, who jointly received the women at the Government House, appreciated the women for rallying support for the new law.
The governor noted that the law was initiated because there was no more vacant land in the state, adding that the population of Benue had increased from about one million in the 50s to about eight million in 2017.
Ortom added, “We love everyone resident in Benue State including the Fulani but we cannot continue to live with killers who have no respect for human lives. This law is to the benefit of everybody as it will encourage economic activities as well as encourage the Fulani to stay in one place and graze their cows among other benefits.
“With the population of the state now, there is no land available for grazing, in the 50s, the population of Benue was within one million but now the population has moved to over eight million with all the portion of land occupied.
“Those who wants to stay in Benue State will be given enabling environment to carry out their business lawfully but those who don’t want the law can quietly exit the state without rancour and we assure them that security will be provided to them to do so.”
Spokespersons for the women from the Tiv, Idoma and Igede areas of the state took turns to appreciate the governor for initiating the law.
They said they were supporting the law because they had always bore the brunt of Fulani attacks since 2012.
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