Oche advocates legal, peaceful approach to herders/farmers’ conflicts in Ado

Ado Local Government Executive Chairman, James Oche has said, in accordance with the provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue State, the resolution to herders/Farmers crisis in Ado in the event of any must take a legal and peaceful approach. He has called on the people not to take laws into their hands no matter the circumstances.

Oche who made this known in Igumale and Apa Districts yesterday during town hall meetings with the people on issues bothering insecurity stressed that, there was no need for anyone to resort to self help when confronted with herders leading their livestock to graze indiscriminately on their farmlands. He urged the people to embrace the legal approach of calling on security to agencies or the traditional or political leaders including himself so as to arrest the herders and take custody of their cattle.

Oche further said, the approach were farmers or youths tried to engage with herders who lead their livestock to graze on farmlands was unacceptable and illegal. He said his administration was committed to safeguarding the lives of the people as well as their property through legally acceptable means.

Speaking in response and on behalf of the people in Igumale, the Atsadu Igumale, Chief Adadu Otse and the Youth Leader Onogwu Otse both said in separate remarks that the people will strictly comply with the directives of the Chairman and ensure that the tenets of the law are respected.

Similarly in Apa, High Chief Ogenyi Otseme, the 3rd Class Chief of Ado Zone B, and Hon. Friday Odaudu the Deputy Leader of Ado legislative Council all agreed to adhere to the words of the chairman and promised to communicate same to the people especially farmers and youths who were most likely to come in confrontational contact with herders.

Meanwhile, the advocacy call, the Chairman has said would be extended to the three remaining districts of Ado; Ijigban, Ulayi and Utonkon and after which there would be a stricto senso application of the anti open grazing law across the geographical space of the local government area.