Locals in Benue State, middlebelt area of Nigeria are currently heaving a sigh of relief following the gradual withdrawal of Fulani herdsmen.
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Barely 24 hours after Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom declared war on open grazing in the state, Fulani herdsmen have started leaving the state.
The zonal leader of the Fulani socio cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in charge of North central states, Alhaji Gidado Idris Bebeji told newsmen on Wednesday that the new law had caused an unprecedented exodus of people, some of whose fathers were born in the state.
He, however, expressed worries that their human rights 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.
Also speaking, 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.