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We won’t repeal anti-open grazing law, Benue tells Miyetti Allah
Benue State Government has advised Miyetti Allah groups and others who want the state to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to stop daydreaming, saying the state will on no condition repeal the law.
“The law has come to stay, and no amount of sponsored propaganda can compel the state government to repeal it.”
The resolute declaration of the government came in a statement titled, ‘MACBAN Spokesman and His Many Contradictions’ which was signed by Governor Samuel Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase and made available to newsmen yesterday.
The statement read in part: “We listened to the utterances of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), National Secretary, Baba Usman Ngelzarma on Channels Television in which he described as a failure, the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue State.
“Ngelzarma’s comments did not come to us as a surprise. He is indeed one of those whose wilful ignorance and misinterpretation of the law have fueled bitter emotions and hatred among pastoralists to embark on a killing spree of farmers in Benue State and other parts of the country.
“The MACBAN national secretary is not new to contradictory statements. It is on record that he and other officials of the group visited Benue State in 2017 and after a meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom, addressed the media where they pledged support for the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.
“On that occasion, Ngelzarma who spoke on behalf of the delegation, admitted that with their deeper knowledge of the law during their visit to Benue, it was now obvious to MACBAN that the legislation was indeed not targeted at Fulani or any other group. Their only appeal was for extension of the November 2017 deadline given for the commencement of implementation and enforcement of the law.
“That the Miyetti Allah mouthpiece now goes to national television to kick against the same law they once described as ‘a win-win for all’ only proves that he is a merchant of crisis and one of those bent on truncating the peace building process in Benue and other states of the federation.”
Akase who noted that Miyetti Allah’s anger towards Governor Samuel Ortom is well understood said it was expected that the Ngelzarma and his group would feel frustrated after the governor refused to accept their offer to betray his people and repeal the law in order to attract personal favours from their sponsors.
“Miyetti Allah groups have not hidden their evil agenda. They threaten farming communities and carry out such threats leaving hundreds dead, yet, they have the audacity to go to television studios and heap insults on victims of their carnage.
“The question Ngelzarma and others who blame herdsmen’s attacks and killings in Benue on the law fail to answer is: what is responsible for similar killings in states which have no laws on open grazing such as Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Plateau,” the statement queried.
Rose Ejembi, Sunnewsonline
News
JUST IN: Tinubu confers national honours on fallen soldiers, approves house, scholarships for families
JUST IN: Tinubu confers national honours on fallen soldiers, approves house, scholarships for families
President Bola Tinubu has conferred posthumous national honours on the four officers and 13 soldiers killed in Okuama, Delta State, on March 14, 2024.
The four officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON) while the 13 courageous soldiers who also lost their lives were awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
The President said that the Federal Government would provide a house in any part of the country to each of the families of the four officers and 13 soldiers.
He also approved scholarships for all the children of the deceased up to the university level.
The President mandated the Military to, within the next 90 days, ensure that all the benefits of the departed are paid to their families.
Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria spoke on Wednesday at the National Cemetery in Abuja during the burial of the fallen soldiers.
Tinubu stated that Nigeria owes the valiant soldiers and their families debt of gratitude.
The President vowed that those who committed the heinous crime of killing the officers and soldiers would not go unpunished, stressing, “We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.”
The fallen heroes are as follows:
Lieutenant Colonel Ali
Major D.E Obi
Major S.D. Ashafa
Captain U. Zakari
Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu
Corporal Danbaba Yahaya
Corporal Kabir Bashir
Lance Corporal Abdullahi Ibrahim
Lance Corporal Bulus Haruna
Lance Corporal Sole Opeyemi
Lance Corporal Bello Anas
Private Alhaji Isah
Private Clement Francis
Private Abubakar Ali
Private Adamu Ibrahim
Private Hamman Peter
Private Ibrahim Adamu
Part of Tinubu’s Speech
“It is with heavy heart that I join you today to commit to earth, the remains of our officers and men who died in the course of duty on 14 March 2024 in Okuama Community, Delta State.
“The officers and soldiers who lost their lives that day were patriots, brave and noble men who gave their lives to defend and protect our nation against internal and external threats. Their sacrifice will be remembered and honoured for generations to come and their.
“On 14 March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community.
“They went as peace makers and peace keepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities.
“They didn’t go with tanks, machine guns and other weapons. They were on a mission of peace.
“Before the dastardly attack, Lt. Colonel Ali, as the Chief of Army Staff briefed me, enjoyed great operational exploits; fighting terrorists and insurgents in the North East and North West before his deployment to the Niger Delta.
“Ali kept faith with his military calling till the end.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, we honour the sacrifice of Ali and the other gallant patriots who died that day. They will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.
“Each man now belongs to the hallowed list of servicemen and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians not minding the risk to their own lives.
“They have all been awarded posthumous national honours. The four gallant Officers have been accorded the Award of Member of the Order of Niger (MON). The thirteen courageous soldiers who also lost their lives have been Awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic Medal.
“I commiserate with the families of our fallen heroes and the entire Armed Forces. I share in the pain and grief you carry today. It is my prayer that God will comfort all who are bereaved as a result of this tragedy.”
News
FG declares March 29, April 1 Easter holiday
FG declares March 29, April 1 Easter holiday
The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 1, as public holidays to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this in a statement on Wednesday by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Aishetu Ndayako.
Part of the message read, “Easter, beyond religious significance, promotes values of love, forgiveness, and compassion, which are essential for social cohesion and harmony.
“While wishing Christians at home and abroad a happy and blissful Easter celebration, the minister also called on Nigerians to join hands with President Tinubu-led administration in its determination to bring sustainable development and usher in prosperity for all.”
The minister urged Nigerians to show acts of charity and generosity to help alleviate the material conditions of the less privileged among them.
News
BREAKING: Bodies of 17 officers murdered in Delta arrive Abuja military cemetery
BREAKING: Bodies of 17 officers murdered in Delta arrive Abuja military cemetery
The remains of the military personnel killed in Delta State on March 14, 2024 have arrived the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
The bodies, which arrived at about 2:26pm on Wednesday, were conveyed by the Military Ambulance Emergency vehicles and was accompanied by the FCT Ambulance Emergency services.
Our correspondent reports that top military echelons from various formations across the country are currently on ground to pay last respect to the fallen heroes.
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Distraught relatives and relations of the deceased personnel as well as wives of other military officers are also on ground. The burial is billed to also have the President, Bola Tinubu in attendance.
Recall the troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State while on peace mission to Okuoma Community were surrounded and killed by some irate youths in the community.
The incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta.
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