Why We Should Not Be Fined For Open Grazing In Benue - MACBAN Tells Ortom

This is coming on the heels of fines stipulated by the state government on any animal impounded.

Governor Ortom had on Thursday, January 20, 2022, signed an amended anti -open grazing law which increased the fee earlier announced for offenders.

Ortom had said;

"We have decided to reverse the charges for cows impounded in Benue State. Henceforth, if any cow is impounded, the owner will pay the sum of N50,000 instead of N2,000.

An additional N20,000 will be paid on a daily basis and if the cows are not taken away from the quarantine centre after seven days, they will be auctioned.ÔÇØ

Reacting to the new charge in a press conference, the state Chairman, MACBAN, Risku Mohammed, through an interpreter Ibrahim Galma (his secretary), said;

"We are bonafide citizens and indigenes of this state because we vote. We are registered voters; we contribute to the economy of the state. Any administration coming to the state, our contributions have been there. We transact business and promote the dignity of the state and the country entirely.

"The livestock that we have is not a crime; it's not a weapon but food that we have and also dispense to others. The whole state benefits from our livestock, so I'm appealing in that order that the N50,000 fine per cattle impounded as amended is not affordable to us.

"We have no other source of livelihood; our cattle are dying. The governor should not punish our race; I mean our ethnicity because our cattle which are part of our livelihood are diminishing. We are human beings and we have nowhere to go. We contribute to the positive development of the state and we are appealing that the state government should consider us.ÔÇØ

"The law is not only applicable to cattle, it is for goats, pigs and also applicable to chickens. But none of these categories of animals have ever witnessed confiscation at the Government House quarantine centre and we have never also seen the indigene's cattle confiscated.

"The law enforcers are always silent when it comes to that of indigenes. Mostly, it's our (Fulani) livestock; we have never witnessed goats, chickens and pigs or any other animals belonging to indigenes confiscated. Up to date, these people's livestock roam freely and graze openly.ÔÇØ