Gov Alia directs Committee to Identify Leaders Of Herdsmen In Benue to Submit Report In 3 Weeks

From Lateef Taiwo

Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has announced that a sub- committee to be headed by the security adviser to the governor with other members comprising Commissioner of Police, Director State Security Services, Traditional Rulers, NAPTIP, Immigration and BLGCA have been set up to identify heads of herders in the state and report back to the state security council within three weeks for action.

The governor who made the announcement ,as part of resolutions during a media briefing at the end of the state security council meeting held at government house Makurdi, said the security council equally informed stakeholders of both parties in the state to note that the anti open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law enacted in the state is still in existence, stressing that it must be respected by both indigenes and other citizens of the country resident in the state for the purpose of carrying out business.

The governor who was represented at the briefing by his Chief Press Secretary Sir Tersoo Kula also told journalists that council recommended dialogue as a major means of resolving the lingering crisis as well as involvement of stakeholders of various sectors to ensure enforcement of the anti open grazing prohibition law which has come to stay rather than a single approach.

Governor Alia also told journalists that council appealed to stakeholders especially law enforcement agents to show sincerity in the implementation as well as enforcement of the anti open grazing prohibition law currently in place, advising security agencies to assist the peace process by guiding against cattle rustling in the state.
The cleric governor further revealed that security council equally emphasized the need for parties involved to explore measures to prevent further attacks rather than resulting to reactionary approach which has failed in the past, adding that council also stressed the need to work towards a peaceful environment for IDPs to return to their ancestral homes.

According to him the chief of staff to the governor Mr Paul Biam and the Deputy Governor Mr Sam Ode were mandated to liaise with stakeholders of Otukpo and Ohimini Local Government Areas as discussed to find a lasting solution to the boundary clashes their areas