Governor Ortom Sings into Law Five-year Jail Term for Cattle Rearers

Samuel Ortom
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday signed into law the Anti-Open Grazing and Anti- Kidnapping, Abduction, Cultism and Terrorism bills. Ortom said at the ceremony in Makurdi that the anti-grazing law would put to an end to incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

The governor lamented the killings and destruction of property in clashes involving farmers and herdsmen over the years, and promised to promote ranching since it had proved to be the best way of rearing livestock globally.

“Now that the bill has been signed into law, the law will take its course on anyone that goes against it,” he said. He warned that violators would serve a jail term of five years or a fine option of N1 million, or both.