DEFENSE MINISTER TO BUHARI : DON’T ALLOW ANTI – GRAZING LAW
Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has advised the Security Council meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari to insist on the suspension of anti-open grazing laws enacted by some States.
The security meeting held at the Aso Rock Villa was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and a representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique.
Also at the meeting were the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, and the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
Benue, Ekiti and Taraba States are currently operating the law as passed by their respective Houses of Assembly.
Abia State yesterday joined the fray as its House of Assembly passed a related law.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on the meeting, Dan-Ali said that apart from suspending the anti-open grazing laws, alternative but safer grazing routes should be made available for the herders and their cattle.
The statement, signed by the Minister’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Col. Tukur Gusau, said that Dan-Ali stressed the need for the Council ” to employ other channels with the affected states to reduce tension by suspending the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law while also negotiating safe routes for the herders.
“The urgent need for the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to prosecute all the suspects arrested in states as well as the need to hasten the establishment of a National Commission on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.”
The minister told the Council that “in the North Central zone, the incidents of herdsmen-farmers clashes in Benue and Taraba States have reduced considerably. Several arrests have been made in connection with the killings and destruction of property by troops in conjunction with other security agencies.”
Source – Authority news
