Members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue state have expressed appreciation to the Benue State Government for releasing about 500 of their cows arrested in parts of the state for violation of Anti – Open Grazing Law.
The State Secretary of MACBAN, Ibrahim Galma, spoke to newsmen in Makurdi while conveying the released cows which had been in custody of the state livestock guards.
Mr. Galma said the cows were released by Governor Samuel Ortom upon the pleas of the zonal chairman of MACBAN, Danladi Ciroma.
He thanked the Benue state government for the gesture saying otherwise the cows would have been auctioned having spent more than seven days prescribed by the open grazing law.
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According to the State MACBAN Secretary, some of cows impounded have spent three weeks following allegation that a personnel of the civil defence corps was killed by a herder, and an order by the governor for the leadership of MACBAN to produce the killer before the cows would be released.
Galma, observed that the arrest of their cows has greatly affected their businesses but expressed appreciation for the governor’s understanding.
The MACBAN scribe, appealed to the state governor to give them more time to facilitate and create awareness among their members over ranching of their animals, as millions of naira have been lost while trying to recover their cows which attracts two N2,000 as fee per each cow impounded by the state government.
Recall that Governor Samuel Ortom, had stated that 130 herders have been prosecuted while over 6,000 cows have been impounded so far in the state for open grazing.
