The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to investigate refusal of the Police and other security agencies to enforce Benue’s anti-grazing law in the state.
This was sequel to a motion under Matter of Urgent National Importance by Rep. Hassan Saleh (Benue-APC) on “urgent call on Federal Government to ensure enforcement of open grazing prohibition and ranching law in Benue”.
Moving the motion, Saleh explained that on Monday, March 5, 2018, no fewer than 26 persons were killed by suspected herdsmen.
He disclosed that “when the heavily armed herdsmen stormed the village, some of them started burning down houses while others were shooting sporadically and also butchered many of the villagers.
“In spite of the widespread condemnation of the killings going on in Benue, many of the perpetrators of the heinous crimes have not been arrested and prosecuted by the Police.
“This has led to the continuation of the killings in the state.”
The lawmaker said “the herdsmen and their socio-cultural organization known as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association have vowed to continue killing citizens of Benue until the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranching Law is reversed”.
He emphasised that Benue as a unit of the federation was empowered by the 1999 Constitution to enact laws that would promote peace, unity and prosperity among its citizens.
He explained that everyone residing or doing business in the state was under obligation to obey such laws.
According to Saleh, there was need for the Federal Government to reiterate the call on the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to take all necessary measures.
“The measure is to enforce the Benue Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranching Law in order to ensure that peace is fully restored to the state,” he said.
The motion was adopted unanimously through a voice vote by members.
The Committee on Legislative Compliance was, therefore, mandated to look into the matter and to submit report within six weeks.
The House also urged the Inspector-General of Police and all security agencies in Benue to arrest the perpetrators of the gruesome killings going on in the state.
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