Benue: “Governor Alia Is Not Implementing The Anti-open Grazing Law. He Has Suspended It,” -Ortom

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, of suspending the implementation of the state’s anti-open grazing law, alleging that the move has contributed to the resurgence of insecurity linked to conflicts between farmers and herders.

According to Channels Television on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Ortom made the allegation while speaking about the security challenges confronting Benue State. He expressed concern over the continued threats facing rural communities and farmers, particularly those worried about attacks and access to their farmlands.

The former governor maintained that the anti-open grazing legislation was a key part of his administration’s strategy for addressing clashes between herders and farming communities.

He argued that the law had helped reduce the problems associated with open grazing during his time in office and accused the current administration of reversing the progress he claimed to have achieved.

Speaking during the interview, Ortom said, “Governor Alia is not implementing the anti-open grazing law. He has suspended it.”

Ortom further claimed that the security situation had improved considerably before he left office in 2023. He expressed disappointment over what he described as a return of challenges that his administration had worked to contain, attributing the alleged reversal to Alia’s approach to implementing the law.

“For your information, by the time I was leaving office in 2023, 95 per cent of the challenges posed by herdsmen had vanished. We were able to solve them, but he came and brought them back,” the former governor stated.

His comments amount to a direct criticism of Alia’s handling of security in Benue, particularly the policies governing open grazing and relations between herders and farmers.

Ortom suggested that the law had been instrumental in reducing tensions and preventing some of the conflicts that previously affected communities across the state.

The anti-open grazing law was introduced as part of efforts to regulate livestock movement and address recurring disputes between pastoralists and farming communities.

Benue has been among the states affected by conflicts over land use, grazing routes and access to agricultural areas, with violence in some locations resulting in deaths, displacement and the destruction of livelihoods.

For many farming communities, security is closely connected to their ability to cultivate land, harvest crops and sustain their families. Persistent attacks and fears of violence can disrupt agricultural activities, threaten food production and force residents to leave their homes in search of safety.

Ortom’s latest remarks have therefore renewed attention on the implementation of the legislation and the differences between his administration and that of his successor over how to tackle the state’s security problems.

The former governor maintained that the law played an important role in his government’s response to herder-related challenges. By alleging that its implementation had been suspended, he questioned whether the current administration was maintaining the measures he considered necessary to preserve the progress made during his tenure.

Herriette11 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com