Pictures: Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill many in Logo LGA,Benue state,

Gunmen have killed at least, 15 people in three villages of Logo local government areas of Benue State.

According to news making round the gunmen suspected to be herders on Sunday and Monday afternoon invaded the rural localities of Tse Akaa, Mba'abaji and Tse Orlalu all in Ugondo Mbanar District of Logo.

The State Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, has however confirmed that six bodies were recovered from two of the affected communities, adding that the herders were relocating from the surroundings when trouble started between them and the villagers.

Bodies recovered from the crisis 

Locals told our correspondent that three people were killed initially but that after Monday afternoon attack, the death toll rose to 15 in all the three villages of Tse Akaa, Mba'abaji and Tse-Orlalu.

On his part, the State Coordinator of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Garus Gololo, said that fight erupted between the herders and villagers because some Tiv speaking youths constituted hinderance to the cattle breeders who were only minding their business.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom, on Monday also confirmed the attack on the communities during an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.

He appealed to both parties to be calm in order to settle whatever misunderstanding they had amicably.

In the same vein, the Police Commissioner, has called on the rural dwellers to allow the herders exit through their vicinity peacefully as they were only leaving because the rains have started.

Hon Kester

The House of Assembly member representing Logo state constituency,Hon Kester Kyenge has also visited the area to see the spate of violence,he broke down in tears on seeing the bodies of persons butchered during the fight.

NSCDC Officer Attacked By Fulani Herdsmen At Buruku, Benue State (Photo)

As shared by Charles ...

STATE OF EMERGENCY ON SECURITY PERSONNEL

Despite thousands of peace meetings between government, herdsmen and farmers,With government re_assuring people to return to their various homes for farming and businesses, insecurity has continued to grow from worst to terrible on daily basis especially to farmers, whom are only left to survive by God's grace. Even security personnel has not been left out as herdsmen attack them for trying to bring peace.

Yesterday fulani herdsmen in Buruku attacked a NSCDC officer , Inspector Amos Zaatyough attached to special Arm squad who is presenting with Buruku unit of the NSCDC to restore peace in the trouble area was yesterday Tuesday 25/4/17 around 5pm attack by the herdsmen. Insp. Amos H Z. Was on his way back from duty when he saw some herdsmen with guns and knives chasing two boys from along a Bush path, Inquisitively he ask what was the problem when the boys run to him when they saw him with NSCDC uniform and was told that the herdsmen were chasing them because they chased the cows out of their groundnut farm.

Insp Amos who intended to seek for peace on the matter was attack by the herdsmen when the asked him if he was Hausa /Fulani or Tiv and left him in his pool of blood. It was the boys that were initially chased that ran to alert NSCDC officers in their station, that rushed to the scene and later took him to the Hospital in makurdi where the Inspector is receiving treatment.

This is the situation our peace loving society is now faced with as a result of dysfunctional leadership and state of emergency by herdsman on innocent people.

Source Towncrieronline

Delta won’t grant grazing reserves to Fulani herdsmen – Governor Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Sunday assured that his administration would not support the establishment of grazing reserves in the state, despite the incessant clashes between herdsmen and local farmers in Delta State,

Okowa stated this during the 2nd session of the seventh synod of Ughelli Diocese of the Anglican Communion held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ekete in the Udu area of the state.

He noted that his administration was doing its best to end farmers/herdsmen clash across the state.

The governor’s clarification came on the heels of alleged plans by the state government to grant grazing reserves to herdsmen as part of efforts to end incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

He said, “The people of Delta have made it clear that they are not in support of grazing reserves. We are not supporting any grazing reserves in the state.

“Possibly, there would have been much more killings if not for our consultations. We are also aware that most of the kidnappings in the state are being done by the Hausa/Fulanis in collusion with some of our people.”

The governor tasked the church to relentlessly pray for the state and the nation, assuring that revenue to the state would increase within the next couple of months as Shell was working to fix the Forcados Trunkline which was attacked by militants.

The Bishop of Yola Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Marcus Ibrahim, in his homily, decried greed in the church, and urged Christians to pray harder to check the activities of Boko Haram, kidnappers and armed robbers in the country.

Fulani Herdsmen Behead Man In Abraka, Delta In His Mum's Farm. Graphic

A young man identified as Mr. Solomon Ejoor was on Monday beheaded by Fulani herdsmen in Abraka, Delta state.

Read part of what was shared by Christian Onwugbolu;

In the recent past, each time Solo Ejor's mother go to her farm, the Fulani herdsmen will warn her not to come back to the farm again.
Monday 24/04/2017, she went back to her farm to cultivate cassava for yesterday's market sales, because that is the only way for her to survive.

While working in the farm, the Fulani herdsmen appeared suddenly with guns, battle axes and other dangerous weapons and started pursuing the old woman.

She used her wisdom as her strength can not help her to outrun the rampaging herdsmen by hiding somewhere. When the Northerners could not catch her but continued the search, she managed to call the son, Solo Ejor. Ejor went to the farm to search and rescue his lovely mother to safety before the dangerous herdsmen pounced on him but unfortunately he was killed during the process.

The mother of the deceased is still alive. She has been taken to her village, Ogbeje-Urhuoka.

Herdsmen/Farmers clash: Police hold Security Summit in Abuja

FILE PHOTO: A herdsman Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force says it has fixed May 8 and May 9 for the National Security Summit on Herdsmen/Farmers clashes to be held in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit earlier scheduled for Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 in Abuja was postponed to allow more critical stakeholders to participate.

The Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Moshood said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, was concerned about the problem and therefore, wanted all stakeholders to work toward the success of the summit.

NAN reports that dignitaries expected at the summit include: the 36 state governors, Ministers, Service Chiefs, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders and members of the organised Private Sector.

Others are: captains of Industry, Heads of sister Security and Safety Agencies, Leaders of Herdsmen and Farmers Associations,  Women and youth Groups, Opinion Leaders  and other invited guests.

Plateau Unrest: Group warns of possible renewed farmers/herders clash

A Youth group under the aegis of the Northern Youths Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) in Plateau State, have raised the alarm that the relative peace being enjoyed in the State may be truncated, if authorities failed to check the activities of Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the State.

The youths in a statement signed by Deputy Speaker, North Central, Audu Yibeikas, made available to journalists, the youths said that such activities, included cases of cattle grazing in a farmer’s dry season farm (Lambu), cattle grazing in the reserved grave sites of the ancestors of the community, forceful intimidation of farmers with violence and death; taking over of native settlements by herdsmen who have now built houses on native bush farms without regard for those who were displaced from the areas; illegal mining activities without respect for the traditional institution in place and also intimidation of native miners.

It reads, “For sometime now there have been persistent activities of herdsmen in Jol of Riyom and Sho in Barkin Ladi local government areas, respectively.

These, according to the youths, have led to pockets of provocations and disagreements between herdsmen and farmers in the areas.

It would be recalled that hitherto, Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Governments have been theatres of the internecine conflict between the itinerant Fulani herdsmen and their Berom for about a decade, leading to the death of scores of people and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

While accusing both the state and federal governments of negligence, Yibeikas said, “the relative peace being enjoyed between farmers and herdsmen across the entire North Central is more like a time bomb.”

The statement added that the challenges in some IDP camps (resulting from herdsmen versus farmers violence), within the North Central are deplorable.

The membership of the aforementioned group is made up of youths from the nineteen Northern States of the country, and has a followership running into millions of young people, the statement stressed.

7 Fulani Herdsmen Jailed for Life over Olu Falae’s Kidnap

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure on Monday sentenced seven herdsmen to life imprisonment for kidnapping Olu Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and presidential candidate.

The herdsmen had on September 21, 2015, invaded Falae’s farm, attacked his workers and kidnapped him to an unknown destination.

The seven convicted persons are: Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawuro Kato.

The court presided over by Justice Williams Olamide held that the suspects were guilty of the kidnap charge brought against them by the Ondo State Government.

Olamide said the recovered ransom, call logs, and identification of the suspects by Falae indicted them of complicity in the crime and subsequently sentenced them to life imprisonment without an option of fine.

He, however, acquitted them of conspiracy and armed robbery, two of the five-count charge.

The counsel to the convicts, Abdulrahman Yusuf, speaking with newsmen after the ruling, expressed regret over the judgment and hinted of an appeal.

“By the time we get the judgment, we will study it and know the next step to take,” he said.

Also speaking with newsmen, Adesola Adeyemi-Tuki, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ondo State Ministry of Justice, described the judgment as justice well-served.

“The prosecution has been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence. One of the points is that the victim was able to identify three of them when he was kidnapped. We also proved their guilt through forensic analysis, phone records and tracking of mobile phones of defendants. Part of the ransom money was also found in the vehicle of the suspects, which is part of the evidence that corroborated their confessional statements,” she said.

She, however, said the accused had the right of appeal.

Photo Credit: Premium Times

Fulani Herdsmen Have Crossed The Line- Tiv Professional Group (TPG)

 



The following is a press release issued by the Tiv Professionals Group (TPG) calling on the Nigerian government to take action against armed Fulani herdsmen.

Fulani Militia Herdsmen have crossed the Line!
Tiv people: men, women and children have continued to be relentlessly hunted as wild game on their ancestral lands and in their homes by a bloodthirsty Fulani militia. This has led to thousands of deaths, wholesale displacement of people, large scale destruction of settlements, property and farm produce. There has also been forceful seizure and annexation of ancestral lands. The Tiv Professionals Group (TPG) is of the opinion that the incessant Fulani attacks on unarmed rural farmers in Tiv land and elsewhere across the country is part of a clandestine agenda to take over parts of the country through stealth. 

Between 2013-2016 alone, Fulani herdsmen killed more than 1,878 men, women and children in cold blood, from twelve Local Government Areas of Benue State. Another 750 were seriously wounded while 200 are missing. Over 99,427 households were affected in Benue State and property worth billions of naira destroyed through a brutal scorch-earth strategy. In Taraba State, more than 1,159 men, women and children were killed in seven Local Government Areas during the same period. More than 24,562 people were internally displaced. 

171 Christian places of worship were destroyed in addition to whole settlements and farm produce. In Nasarawa State where the Tiv also reside in large numbers, over 4,000 men, women and children have been killed in the past four years in Keana, Doma, Awe, Obi and Lafia Local Government Areas. Over 100,000 have been displaced and their ancestral lands in Doma, Awe and Lafia annexed and occupied. Cumulative losses to the country since 2013 as a result of Fulani herdsmen activities is estimated in excess of $14 billion while States directly affected by Fulani terrorism have lost on average about 47% of their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR).

A trans-border Fulani militia spearheads the attacks. Apparently with the full support of ranking Fulani leaders in the country including an assortment of Fulani bodies especially Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), The Pastoral Resolve (PARE) and the GAN Allah Fulani Association. PARE had by 2012 sought –N-5 billion to establish pilot grazing reserves in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states. Fulani leaders with an inordinate sense of entitlement have continued to ask for grazing reserves and stock routes across the country even when core Northern states with greater Fulani presence have rejected the concept of grazing reserves within their boundaries. They have also confessed commitment to rapid punitive responses against parts of the country resisting open grazing to ensure complete destabilization of communities as a way of creating criminal nuisance and vortex to gain political traction. 

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has cleverly identified and handsomely paid some of these trans border militia herdsmen. Emboldened, they operate as criminal gangs; mercenaries, kidnappers and cattle rustlers from safe havens within the country. The frequency and brutality of their attacks are a threat to the security and unity of the country. It is little wonder that they have a notorious listing in the corridors of global terror as the 4th deadliest terror group in the world, after Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al- shabab.

Regrettably, the Nigerian Government with incumbent fiduciary security responsibility to protect citizens and ensure their property rights has egregiously failed to square up to Fulani herdsmen terror. In this failure, we are sad to note that virtually, all security agencies and structures in the country are in the hands of Fulani people. Could this be a reason why security agents seem to be acquiescing in this matter at the detriment of our people? Government is curiously contemplating the importation of exotic grasses from outside the country for Fulani herdsmen. Government is also trying to resuscitate colonial era grazing reserves and stock routes to service the Fulani economy of indiscriminate open grazing across the country. 

Ranking government officials including the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh have repeatedly spoken in favour of open indiscriminate grazing by the Fulani even when this is an obsolete and disruptive livestock strategy attended by conflict and bloodshed. The nomadic pastoral model is unsustainable as a result of current demographic and environmental challenges in the country. Contrary to the position canvassed by Fulani apologists, the ECOWAS Protocols on Transhumance and Free Movement of Goods and Services, does not support trans border Fulani incursions deep into the country attended by conflict, criminal activities, and adverse public health consequences. 

The TPG avers that grazing reserves and stock routes are a skewed colonial livestock infrastructure designed to privilege the Fulani at the expense of other nationalities in the country. Attempts by the Government of Northern Nigeria to establish more grazing reserves and stock routes across the Region in 1965 failed. Similar attempts by the Military Government with the support of the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1976 also failed. The failure of grazing reserves in post Independent Nigeria is because of several reasons. One, there are no uncommitted tracks of land across the states of the Federation which can be ceded as reserves and stock routes for the exclusive use of Fulani herdsmen. At Independence, the country had 0.51 hectares of arable land per citizen. This figure shrunk to 0.29 hectares by 1990 and to 0.21 by 2010. At current population growth, it will shrink to 0.17 by 2020, 0.13 by 2030 and 0.08 by 2050. Grazing reserves have also continued to be seen as a distortion capable of creating distinct territories and sovereignties within the country. The concept is not only unconstitutional and against the provisions of the Land Use Act of 2004, it is neither profitable nor healthy. 

As stated earlier, the ECOWAS Protocols do not support trans border criminality and makes clear and unambiguous exceptions justifiable by reasons of public order, public safety and public health. Fulani militia herdsmen and their trans border kith and kin however go deep into Nigerian territory and seek to graze by force of arms undermine public order, public safety and public health. They must not be allowed to seek shelter under the ECOWAS protocols whose letter and spirit they undermine. Those who shield them under the cover of ‘international hunters’ like Governor Tanko Al- Makura of Nasarawa State and those who deploy public funds to ‘pay them off’, as Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State must be brought to account.

The Fulani lobby for grazing, reserves and stock routes across the country is nothing but cheap blackmail. The Nigerian livestock challenge should be about improved livestock production practices instead of a Fulani attempt to cling to an obsolete lifestyle of privilege in which cattle come before citizens. Recently, Chief Audu Ogbeh disclosed that the Federal Government would train 3,000 Peace Corps members to protect herdsmen from cattle rustlers. This means that the Federal Government values livestock over citizens. The TPG condemns this twisted value system in the strongest terms and is ashamed of Chief Audu Ogbeh.
The country must regulate livestock production and management to ensure improved production practices that are peaceful, healthy and safe. Each Nigerian State was created to give indigenes political space within which to explore their full potentials within the country. Fulani herdsmen just as other Nigerians have their States and Local Governments. If they insist on grazing reserves and stock routes, their states should establish these for them. PARE, MACBAN and other Fulani leaders and bodies craving for grazing reserves must seek these in states of the North where Fulani are indigenous. 

The TPG calls on President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also a life patron of MACBAN, to break his unholy silence on the murderous activities of Fulani herdsmen. He must be bold and should also be seen to be faithful to the letters of the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office he took, as contained in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. He must not be seen as willfully neglecting to uphold the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 14[2b] of the Constitution, which states thus: ‘The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’ He should treat Fulani militia herdsmen as terrorists and contain their murderous and criminal activities designed to secure usufructuary rights to other lands in order to appropriate the political opportunities that such rights may convey. Mr. President, Fulani leaders and sponsors of Fulani terrorism must pause to consider the multiple ways herdsmen terrorism is threatening the unity and security of the country. 

We however call on states ravaged by Fulani terrorism to immediately legislate and regulate open grazing. We salute Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti for showing the way here and we call on nationalities and communities at the receiving end of herdsmen terror to be aware that it is their duty and their right to defend themselves for as long as the Nigerian state is unable to protect them and secure their rights to their ancestral lands.

Our willingness to stay in one united country should not be taken for granted by Fulani herdsmen. We can no longer tolerate their incessant attacks and the slaughter of our people in their sleep on their ancestral lands. The Fulani have crossed the line and for the sake of our country, they must be called to order.
Armed Fulani herdsmen

Fulani Herdsmen Rape 70-Year-Old Widow To Coma In Ebonyi. Women Protest (Pics)

The women of Isu in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Wednesday stormed Abakaliki protesting against the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The women who came in their numbers carrying placards with different inscriptions such as "Fulanis have destroyed all our crops and polluted our rivers and ponds,' ' Fulanis have humiliated us' among others, alleged that one of the herdsman raped a 70- year-old widow to coma .
According to the the leader of the protesters, Florence Okoro, the herdsman sneaked into the old widow's house while she was preparing her evening meal and raped her.
Okoro, who added that the hands and legs of the old widow were broken on the process, appealed to the state government and security agencies to come to their aid.
Addressing the women at the Fatilami Abubakar Park, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu, condemned the raping of the widow and the destruction of the farmlands of Isu people by the herdsmen.
Nwankwegu assured them that the government would take decisive action against the perpetrators of the crimes.
He told them that Governor David Umahi had directed that the culprits be fished out and allowed to face the full weight of the law.
The commissioner explained that Umahi had always emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence and wondered why such wickedness should be meted out to the people.
"Governor has heard this and asked me to look for a way to catch the man(rapist) so that he would be punished accordingly," he said in a statement by Umahi's Chief Press Secretary.

Nwankwegu added: "We have gone to the police and they told us they were on the way to bring him(rapist) to Abakaliki. I'm promising you that by Monday, he would be arraigned in court. You will come and see him because what he has done is wrong. The governor supports live and let's live"
On his part, the Chief of Staff,Government House, Mr.Emmanuel Offor Okorie frowned at the activities of the herdsmen in the area, promising that the right thing would be done to serve as a deterrent to others.
"It's annoying the Fulani herdsmen, instead of taking care of their cattle are touching you. What is expected to be done for you to be happy our governor will do it".

Yoruba group decries herders’ destruction of farmlands in South West

Fulani Herdsmen
Tasks governors to develop action plans to stop menace

The Yoruba Initiative (TYI) a socio-cultural and non-political group in the Southwest has raised the alarm on the menace constituted by suspected Fulani herdsmen on farmlands in the South west and other parts of the country. It describes the unceasing encroachment as a threat to the economy and poses danger to the distressing national economy.
TYI in a statement signed on behalf of the group by Mr Folu Olamiti, Chairman Media Committee, alluded to the most outcries and complaints from farmers in South West, Delta, South Eastern states and recently from Catholic Bishops Conference Of Nigeria (CBCN) in Abuja on the havoc being wreaked by suspected Fulani herdsmen on farmlands.
The group, against this background, therefore called on the Southwest governors to take the problem as a challenge by collaborating with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) to immediately develop an action plan aimed towards preventing further encroachment of farm lands.

TYI in the statement said the Federal Government should urgently intervene by looking into the problems and dangers posed by the cows rampaging farmlands in the south-west and other parts of the federation, averring that the problem if not curbed has the potency to cause commotions and disaffections among ethnic groups in the country.

The group noted that the grazing of cattle on farmlands in specific areas of the south-west by the herders had been discouraging the business of farming in the region, more so as farmers continued to count their losses each time cows maliciously devoured crops in their farms.
The group lamented that the efforts by the Federal Government to diversify the economy with farming as a major anchor, are already being defeated through the danger now being constituted by the rampage on arable lands by cows, thereby rendering them useless for viable farming ventures saying "if it continues it will worsen poverty and food scarcity not only in the south-west, but also across the federation in the foreseeable future."

''OPEN GRAZING PROHIBITION BILL''.| Full Text

OPEN GRAZING PROHIBITION BILL: FULL TEXT
BENUE STATE HOUSE OF  ASSEMBLY

A BILL FOR A LAW TO MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LIVESTOCK PROMOTION, DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATORY AGENCY, 2016 AND FOR PURPOSES  CONNECTED THEREWITH.

Date of Commencement
BE IT ENACTED by the House of Assembly of Benue State as follows-

1. This Law may be cited as the LIVESTOCK (PROMOTION, DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATORY) AGENCY LAW, 2016 and shall come into force on the ……………..day of ………….. 2016

Definition
2. In this law- 
"Agency" means the Livestock Promotion, Development and Regulatory Agency set up under this Law;

"Board" means the governing body of the Agency set up under this Law:

"Chairman" means a Chairman of Local Government Area Council in Benue State or any person acting in that capacity;

"Commissioner" means the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources;

"Commercial Ranch" means a large farm for breeding and raising cattle, goats, sheep or horses;

"Committee" means the Committee hereby created by this Law;

"Community" means village, hamlet, farm settlement etc;

"General Ranch" means the Public Ranch;

"Governor" means the Governor of Benue State; 
"Land" means any ground, soil, or earth whatsoever, as meadows, pastures, woods, etc and everything annexed to it, whether by nature, as trees, water, etc, or by the hand of man, as crops buildings fences, etc.;

"Livestock" means any farm animal, particularly cattle, goat, sheep or horse and camel kept for use or profit, and includes any animal, which the Governor may by notice in the State Gazette declare to be included in the term "Livestock" for the purpose of this Law;

"Livestock Guards" means an officer, volunteer and all the person engaged by the Committee for the enforcement of the provisions of this Law;

"Open grazing" means the act of pasturing livestock to feed on growing grass, shrubs, herbage, farm crops, etc, in open fields without any form of restriction;

"Ranch" means a secured tract or land used as animal nurturing farm, particularly for the grazing and rearing of cattle, sheep, goat or horse and any other animal for the purpose of this Law;

"Ranching" means movement of livestock from one grazing area to another;

"Reserve" means a piece of land exclusively designated reserve for grazing of livestock in any part of Benue State;

"State" means Benue State of Nigeria;

Establishment of the Agency
3. (1) There shall be established for the State a body to be known as 
Livestock Promotion, Development and Regulatory Agency (in this Law referred to as "the Agency")

(a) The Agency shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and common seal and

(b) May sue and be sued in its corporate name, and 
(c) May acquire, hold or dispose of any movable and immovable property for the purpose of its functions under this law.

Objectives of the Agency
4. (1) The main objectives for which the Agency is established are;

(i) The Agency shall establish ranches from any part of the public domain excluding however, State forest reserves, parks and monuments, which are valuable for raising forage crops

(ii) Provide for the protection, administration regulation and improvement of the ranches:

(iii) Adopt regulations and enter into cooperative agreements necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Law;

(iv) Preserve the land and resources from destruction or unnecessary Injury;

(v) Provide for orderly improvement and development of the ranch;

(vii) Conduct a continuous study of the erosion and flood control and perform work to protect and rehabilitate areas subject to this Law;

(vii) Prescribe mechanisms or measures for the acquisition of land for the establishment of ranches.

Ranching Permits.
5. The Agency shall issue or cause to be issued permits to graze~, livestock on such Ranches to bona fide settlers, residents and other stock owners as under the Agency's rules and regulations are entitled to participate in the use of the ranch, upon the annual payment of a fee In each case to be fixed or determined from time to time by the Agency.

Provided always that: 
(i) Ranching permits shall be issued to citizens of Nigeria only and to groups, associations, or corporations authorized to conduct business under the taws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Preference shall however be given in issuance of ranching permits to those within or near a district who are landowners engaged in the livestock business, bona fide occupants or settlers;

(ii) Permits must be for a period of not more than one year with renewal subject to the discretion of the Agency;

(iii) The Agency shall however remit, reduce, refund in whole or part or postpone payment of ranching fees in cases of natural emergencies such as drought, epidemics etc;

(iv) Ranching privileges are to be safeguarded but the creation of a ranches or the issuance of a permit pursuant to the provisions of this sub-section shall not create any right, title, interest, or estate in or to the lands.

Temporal Structures, wells, reservoirs and other improvements.
6. Temporal structures and other improvements for the management of permitted livestock may be constructed within the ranches under permits issued, or cooperative agreements approved, by the Agency. However, no permit entitles the committee to use improvements constructed and owned by a prior occupant until the applicant has paid the prior occupant the reasonable value of the improvements, as determined under the Agency's regulations.

Cooperation with associations, land officials, and agencies in conservation or propagation of wildlife.
7. The agency shall promote cooperation among those Interested In the use of the ranches, such as local associations of livestock owners, state land officials and other officials of State or Federal and International Agencies engaged In the conservation or propagation of livestock and wildlife.

(a) Proceeds or funds accruing from under this law from ranching fees the government and the host community or local government council, as the case may be, where ranch is located at a percentage to be determined by the Agency from time to time;

(b) Approve and grant loans to civil and public servants, cooperative and thrift societies, educational institutions, companies and private individuals Interested or Wishing to embark on livestock production or rearing;

(c) Create awareness among the general public through seminars. Symposia and advertisement on the commercial viability of livestock production;

(d) Develop and maintain a feasible and sustainable livestock production industry in the State;

(e) Develop an integrated modern livestock development and production plan and strategy for the State;

(f) Develop guidelines for the implementation of an integrated livestock production policy and make appropriate recommendation to the Governor;

(g) Initiate, design, co-ordinate, evaluate and monitor all programs aimed at integrating or boosting livestock production, rearing and herding in the State;

(h) Organise training and support programs aimed at improving livestock agriculture;

(i) Engage or liaise with key stakeholders Local and International in livestock production to increase access to education and training animal husbandly:

(j) Perform or implement any other policy initiative as maybe determined by the Board.

Functions of the Agency
8. (1) The Agency shall in order to achieve its mandate and objectives 
under this law-

(a) Establish competencies and capabilities in its operations including the following areas:-

(i) Policy research and development; 
(ii) Training and development; 
(iii) The Benue Livestock Development Fund.

(b) Establish offices of the Agency at the local government areas and appoint the necessary personnel to those offices;

(c) Carry out or cause to be carried out any investigation that it deems necessary;

(d) Consider such recommendations, suggestions and requests concerning the production of livestock, operation of ranches as it may receive from any source:

(e) Conduct or cause to be conducted such research as it deems necessary;

(f) All secondary schools in the State shall teach agricultural science and students must register agricultural science for WAEC/SSCE/NECO or as the case may be;

(g) All schools in the State primary, secondary and tertiary shall have an integrated school farm run on commercial basis that will promote and introduce agriculture to our youth at the earliest possible age;

(h) Local Government areas of the State having common border with other States shall establish transit ranches and inspection posts which shall accommodate permitted transit livestock for a period not exceeding 14 (fourteen) days from the date of entry;

(i) To encourage the promotion of livestock holding in every household in the State.

Prohibition of Nomadic livestock herding and ranching in the State
9. (1) No individual or group shall, after the commencement of this 
law engage in nomadic livestock herding or ranching In the State outside the designated ranches.

(2) Any person or group of persons who contravenes subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and shall. on conviction be liable to three years imprisonment or to a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), or both

(a) Where such contravention causes damage to farm, crops or property of any person within the State, the owner of such livestock shall after evaluation by tile Agency of the damage pay a monetary compensation of the farm crops or property so damaged to the owner

10. (1) Any livestock found grazing, wandering; herding in an area not 
designated as a ranch shall be impounded by the Agency or any other person authorized by the Agency in that behalf.

Release of impounded Livestock
11. (1) The Agency or any other person so authorized shall release the 
impounded livestock to the owner upon showing good cause and after paying the prescribed fees and expenses as the case may be as contemplated under this law

Sale of impounded Livestock
12. Any impounded livestock under this law which is not claimed within 7 (seven) days of such impoundment shall:-

(a) Be sold auction to public; and

(b) The proceeds of such sale shall be deposited in a designated government account as part of Internally Generated Revenue (lGR);

(c) No action shall lie against the Agency or any person or group of persons for effecting such a sale.

Livestock Development Fund
13. The Agency shall establish manage and administer a Livestock Development Fund to finance the execution of the programs of the Agency.

(1) The Fund shall be managed by a Board of Trustee to be headed by person of proven integrity appointed by the Governor; while the membership shall be drawn from the relevant Ministries, agencies. the private sector, educational institutions.

(2) The Agency shall for the purpose of this section and within its available resources amongst others:-

(a) Provide career guidance services in livestock production;

(b) Provide access to information regarding products and services of tile Livestock Development Fund

(c) Provide financial assistance to those wishing to embark on livestock agriculture;

(d) Provide financial assistance to small, micro and medium enterprises and cooperative societies;

(e) Provide training regarding the concepts and principles of entrepreneurship and business;

(f) Provide training in livestock production for unemployed youths to enhance their life and professional skills which would enable them to be self-employed and to be integrated into the economy;

(g) Provide such other services as may be necessary to achieve tile aims contemplated by this section.

Fund of the Agency
14. The Fund of the Agency shall consist of:

(i) Initial take-off grant for the Agency;

(ii) Monies lawfully received from any other source and which must be disclosed not later than 90 days after receipt;

(iii) Any other lawful sources not mentioned above:

(iv) Annual budgetary allocations appropriated by the State House of Assembly;

(v) Interest on loans granted by the Agency for livestock production.

Annual Report
15. The Agency shall cause to be submitted to the House of Assembly annually;

(a) A statement of income and expenditure of the Agency during the previous year:

(b) A statement of assets and liabilities of the Agency;

(c) The financial status of the Agency;

(d) Any other matter relating to livestock development production or improvement.

(e) Progress on the implementation of this Law.

Powers of the Agency
16. For the purpose of carrying out its functions specified under this Law the Agency shall:-

(a) Invent or adopt the latest technology relevant for the production, rearing and ranching of livestock in the State;

(b) Obtain or secure loans, advances and other banking facilities for the development and enhancement of livestock in the state.

Control and Management of the Agency
17 The affairs of the Agency shall be managed by a Board, which shall:-

(a) Determine the operational policy and direction of the Agency; and

(b) Exercise control generally over the exercise of its powers and execution of its functions.

Composition, appointment and conditions of Service of the Board
18. (1) There shall be constituted for the Agency, a Management Board 
(In this Law referred to as "the Board"), which shall give guidelines for the management of the affairs of the Agency.

(2) The Board shall consist of:-

(i) Chairman who shall be the Governor of the State or his representative;

(ii) Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(iii) A representative of the Organized Civil Society;

(iv) A representative of the Farmers Association;

(v) A representative of University of Agriculture, Makurdi:

(vi) The Rector, Akperan Orshi Polytechnic of Agriculture Yandev;

, (vii) The Managing Director, Benue Investment and Property 
Company Limited;

(viii) The Chairman, Benue Chamber of Commerce; Industries, Mines and Agriculture;

(ix) The Surveyor-General of the State;

(x) Representatives of Traditional Institutions in Tiv and Idoma areas of the State;

(xi) Representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria/Muslim in the State;

(xii) A representative of ANCOPS Benue State;

(xiii) Representative of the Ministry of Finance;

(xiv) A representative of the Commissioner of Police;

(xvi) The Executive Secretary of the Agency as Member/Secretary

(3) Members of the Board who are non-permanent members shall be appointed by their parent MDAs:-

(4) Members must be appointed in a manner ensuring transparency and openness; and

(5) Members must reflect the demographics and geographical spread of the State;

(6) Members hold office at the pleasure of the Governor;

(7) A member appointed to fill a vacancy holds office for the unexpired portion of the term of the member he or she replaces

(8) The conditions of service, salary and allowances of the Chairman and other members shall be such as may be prescribed in their letters of appointment

(9) Members who are employed by an organ of State are not entitled to remuneration, or any allowance, but must be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses by the Board

Disqualification, removal from office and resignation of members
19. (1) The Chairman or any other permanent member may resign his 
office by giving notice thereof in writing to the Governor and on such resignation being accepted, the Chairman or the member shall be deemed to have vacated his office.

(2) A non-permanent member may vacate his office upon the service on the Chairman of a letter of withdrawal by the appointing authority or his parent body, or if he has-

(a) Been adjudged as insolvent; or

(b) Been convicted of an offence, which in the opinion of the Governor involves moral turpitude, or any conviction that is grave enough to warrant a removal or non-appointment:

(c) Become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member; or

(d) Acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member, or

(e) So abused his office as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest; provided that a person shall not be removed from office as Chairman or other member under the section unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.

Appointment of Executive Secretary and other employees of the Agency
20. (1) The Governor, upon the recommendation of the Board, shall 
appoint a suitably qualified person as the Executive Secretary, who shall have not less than ten (10) years' experience in Agriculture or livestock management

(2) The Executive Secretary shall be an employee of the Agency and shall be accountable to the Board.

(3) The Executive Secretary shall:-

(a) Ensure that the functions of the Agency in terms of this Law are performed;

(b) Report to the Board on the proper functioning of the Agency; and

(c) Complete a report on the activities of the Agency for each financial year and submit same to the Board for approval.

(4) The Executive Secretary holds office for a term of five (5) years only

(5) The Agency may also determine the number, nature and categories of other officers and employees required to assist the Agency in the discharge of its functions.

(a) The salary and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the officers and employees shall be such as are applicable to similar service in the public service of the State;

(b) The Agency may appoint consultants required to assist in the discharge of its functions on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Board.

Duties of the Executive Secretary
21. (1) The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for, amongst 
Others:-

(a) Exercising all appropriate level of leadership for the organization;

(b) Effectively communicating a vision, management philosophy, and business strategy to the Agency's employees;

(c) The general and effective management of the business affairs of the Agency;

(d) The general supervision and direction of all other officials of the Agency;

(e) Developing and recommending to the Board a sound long-term strategy for the Agency that meets the needs of the Agency, government communities, employees, and other stakeholders;

(f) Ensuring that the strategies of the Agency are effectively implemented with timely progress towards strategic objectives:

(g) Obtaining and allocating resources consistent with strategic objectives and making timely adjustments in strategies when market conditions and other forces demand a change;

(h) Carrying out a comprehensive budgeting process and monitoring the Agency s financial performance against the budget;

(i) Submitting annual reports, financial statements and financial position of the Agency to the Board; and

(j) Developing an annual strategic plan and budget.

Local Government Advisory Committee
22. (1) In order that the Agency may have the benefit of the fullest 
information and advice concerning the physical, economic, and other local conditions in the several ranches in the State, there shall be an advisory board of local stockmen in each ranch to be known as ranch advisers.

(a) Each of ranch advisory board shall consist of not less than five (5) members;

(b) Each ranch advisory board shall meet at least once annually, at a time to be fixed by Agency, and at such times as it may be expedient;

\  (c) Offer advice and make recommendations provided that in 
no case shall any ranch adviser participate in any advice or recommendation concerning a permit, or an application thereof, in which he is directly or indirectly interested;

(d) Offer advice or make recommendations concerning rules and regulations for the administration of this Law, the establishment of ranches and the modification of the boundaries thereof; and

(e) Any other matter affecting the administration of this Law within the area.

Composition of Local Government Committee
23. The Local Advisory Committee shall comprise:-

(i) The Chairman of the Local Government Council as Chairman;

(ii) The Chairman of the Local Government Traditional Council or his representative.

(iii) Representative of the Clergy;

(iv) Representative of herdsmen;

(v) Representative of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)

(vi) Divisional Police Officer or his representatives;

(vii) Representative of the host Community.

Delegation and Assignment
24. (1) The Board may delegate any of its powers or assign any of its 
duties to the Executive Secretary or any employee of the Agency

(2) The Executive Secretary may delegate any power or assign any duty conferred or imposed upon him under this Law to a Director or:-

(a) Any other employee of the Agency with appropriate
knowledge and experience: or

(b) Any other person, after consulting the Board.

(3) A delegation or assignment under subsections (1) and (2) above must be in writing and:-

(a) May be subject to any conditions determined by the Board or the Executive Secretary;

(b) Does not prevent the exercise-of that power or the performance of that duty by the Board or the Executive Secretary; and

(c) May be withdrawn or amended by the Board or the Executive Secretary.

Power to accept gifts
25 (1) The Agency may accept gifts of land money or other property 
on terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the person or organization making the gift,

(2) The Agency shall not accept any gift if the conditions attached by the person or organization making the gift are Inconsistent or will compromise the Agency in the discharge of its functions under this Law.

Power to invest funds
26. The Agency may with the prior approval of the Board invest In any manner authorized by law, such of its funds as is not immediately required for its use

Regulations
27. The Governor may, after consultation with tile Board, make regulations regarding:-

(a) Any matter which in terms of this Law may or must be prescribed.

(b) Any action in order to promote compliance with this Law and

(c) Any ancillary or incidental administrative or procedural matter that is necessary to prescribe for the proper implementation or administration of this Law.

Repeal of CAP 72 BNSL, 2004.
28. (1) The Grazing Reserves Law Cap 72, Laws of Benue State, 2004 
is hereby repealed.

(2) All instruments made there under that affect grazing of Livestock shall be modified in line with the provisions of this Law.

I Assent/Withhold Assent the ………………day of ………………..2016.

SAMU£L ORTOM,
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR
BENUE STATE OF NIGERIA