Fulani herdsmen have started fleeing from Benue State over the enactment of anti-open grazing law in the state.
The Anti-grazing bill was signed into law by Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom last month.
The zonal leader of the Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in-charge of North central states, Alhaji Gidado Idris Bebeji, who stated this to journalists Wednesday, admitted that the new law had resulted in a mass departure of people whose fathers were born in Benue from the state.
He, however, expressed worry that their right to free movement was being violated as a result of the restriction placed on their animals by the law.
“The state government has been speaking English with nobody caring to properly inform the pastoralists. They (herders) may be leaving the state as being reported because they would not want to be lawless especially against a law they do not understand very well,” he said.
The Benue State Coordinator of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Garus Gololo, said his members had started leaving the state following the commencement of the anti-grazing law.
