Herdsmen Beg Gov Ortom, Benue People Over Attacks

Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the umbrella body for Fulani herdsmen, on Saturday asked for the forgiveness of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State over attacks and killings in the state.

Herdsmen made the apology through its National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan at a peace meeting held in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Alhassan promised to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

In a statement on Saturday, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, revealed that the peace meeting was brokered by the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema.

“The Miyeitti Allah scribe described Governor Ortom as a peace-loving man who stood firmly for the emancipation of his people.

“Alhasan gave assurance that members of the group would embrace the peace initiatives put forward by the Governor,” Akase said.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Ortom stated that the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was to end the killing of innocent people.

Ortom noted that the law was to encourage ranching as the global best practice for animal husbandry.

He said the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law protects both farmers and herdsmen in Benue State.