Take your cows back, Benue govt releases 210 animals to their owners
- Some animals have been returned back to their owners by the Benue state government
- The cow owners were however subjected to a fine for violating the state law on grazing
- Meanwhile, the government has called on the herders to desist from violating the open grazing prohibition law
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In what will gladden the hearts of herders in Benue state, some cows have been released by the state government after their owners paid fines worth N5 million.
The cows, 210 in number were earlier confiscated by the state livestock guards at Mbala, Makurdi, and Gbajimba in Guma local government area of the state.
According to the commander of the Benue State Livestock Guards, Linus Zaki, herders must stop violating the open grazing prohibition law of 2017, Channels TV reports.
Source: Twitter
He urged them to seek approval for the establishment of ranches because the state will not take it lightly with those breaking the state laws concerning cows.
Zaki said:
“We arrested 140 cows in Mbala on February 11, 2021, and 70 cows in Gbajimba on February 16, 2021. Altogether, we are handing over 210 cows to their owners today.
“We cannot stop implementing the law so the herdsmen must learn to follow the right procedure."
The owners reportedly paid the sum of N2000 for each cow. 140 of the animals were held for 14 days while 70 of them were held for eight days.
Meanwhile, secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ibrahim Galma, who spoke on behalf of the cattle owners appealed for leniency.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Bauchi state chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) called for sanctions to be meted out on some governors for allegedly issuing quit notices to herders in their states.
The Bauchi chairman of MACBAN, Sadiq Ahmed, stated this at a press conference on Tuesday, February 23, in the state.
In a related development, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state had on Friday, February 19, defended his comment about armed herders.
According to the governor, his comment supporting herdsmen arming themselves with AK-47 rifles was a figure of speech endorsing their protection.
The comment of the governor had sparked outrage across Nigeria, with many accusing him of supporting criminality.
Governor Ortom had earlier described the comments of his Bauchi counterpart supporting armed herdsmen, as disappointing.
According to the Benue state chief executive, herders bearing arms violates the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.
Aanu Adegun is a politics and current affairs content editor at Legit.ng with over 7 years of experience in both digital and traditional media. A graduate of English Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, Aanu started his journalism career as a features writer. Aanu, who is also a creative writer has written books and children magazines. He once anchored some specialised pages of a national newspaper. Aanu is also a satirist.
Source: Legit.ng
