By Peter Duru
MAKURDI—Benue State government is to build six pivot ranches in the three senatorial zones of the state, ahead of the November 1 implementation of the new open grazing prohibition law in the state.
Security Adviser to the state Governor and Chairman of the Enforcement Task Force, Colonel Edwin Jando (retd), made this known yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, during a sensitisation meeting organised by the state’s Police Commissioner, Bashir Makama, on the new law, the Ember Months operations of the Command and the re-launch of the Bail is Free campaign.
Jando said: “The six pivot ranches are not for herdsmen. We will use them to confine livestock impounded from violators of the provisions of the new law and those that entered Benue State without authorisation.
“The facilities will have good security, including veterinary doctors.
“When confiscated, the owners of such cattle will be allowed seven days to pay the necessary fines for violating the law, failing which we will auction the cattle.”
Selected leaders of herdsmen at the meeting, appealed for aggressive sensitisation of the people on the provisions of the law.
