Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, has suggested the enactment of Anti-Open Grazing  law of Benue State to Oyo, Ondo and other states experiencing herdsmen clash as the only way out to end the herdsmen crisis in the states.

The deputy Governor on Tuesday gave the suggestion on Channels Televison’s Sunrise Daily programme.

He said “The police in Benue have done a beautiful job especially in keeping our anti-open grazing law. A good number (of offenders) have been arrested in the past and they were given fair trials. Some of them have been sentenced to correctional centres while others paid fines.

“As of today, we also have livestock guards that are all over the place to ensure that you only breed your cattle in ranches in Benue. Those who flouted the law have always been arrested and if they paid the fines they were let go.

“So, the thing is working very well and I am surprised that it is taking such a long time for other states in the federation to borrow such a leaf from Benue. What is happening in Oyo and Ondo States today would not be happening if they had come on board with us in 2016 or thereafter. This is a national issue. It should be looked at dispassionately by all sectors of Nigeria.”

The deputy governor clarified that the state government was not against breeding of cows. It constantly advises herdsmen in the state to embrace the ranching system.

“We’ve been preaching to them that Benue State has nothing against the breeding of cows but what we are saying is that the best international practice in breeding cows is ranching and a good number of them are buying the idea,” he explained.  

However, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had said the state enacted an anti-open grazing law but implementation of the law has been the challenge that the state is facing.  

He added that the cooperation of the police and other federal security forces was crucial to enforcing the law enacted in order to stop the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.