Benue State government has released 210 cows its Livestock Guards confiscated after arresting them at Mbala, Makurdi and Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
The cows were set free and handed over to their owners after they paid various fines worth N5 million. They were handed to their owners by the Commander of the Benue State Livestock Guards, Linus Zaki.
Zaki warned the cattle owners to desist from going against the open grazing prohibition law of 2017 and seek approval for the establishment of ranches.
According to him, the state would not take it lightly with herdsmen that flout its anti-open grazing law.
He said, “We arrested 140 cows in Mbala on February 11, 2021, and 70 cows in Gbajimba on February 16, 2021. Altogether, we are handing over 210 cows to their owners today.
“We cannot stop implementing the law so the herdsmen must learn to follow the right procedure.”
The Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ibrahim Galma, who spoke for the cow owners, begged for leniency. He said that what is involved in establishing ranches is too technical and scientific for an average Fulani nomad.