Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has said that the state’s efforts to enforce the anti-open grazing law are being undermined by the lack of adequate weaponry among local security personnel, who face heavily armed herdsmen and their militias.
Through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, the governor explained that members of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards are restricted to using simple, locally-made firearms, while those violating the law often carry sophisticated weapons such as AK-47s and AK-49s.
He said, “The challenge has always been clear: the state protection guards don’t have the authority to carry automatic rifles. Meanwhile, the herders are often accompanied by armed groups openly carrying assault weapons. Even mobile police officers, despite their training and equipment, have fallen to these attackers. How then can local guards with limited arms enforce the law effectively?”
Governor Alia pointed out that unless the law is implemented nationally with support from federal security forces, it will continue to face serious limitations. He highlighted the difficulty in enforcement when violators simply move into neighboring states where such laws don’t exist.
He said, “When offenders flee into Nasarawa, where there’s no such law, what is the state expected to do?”
His comments were in response to concerns raised by the Benue Advocacy Network, which questioned the state government’s handling of insecurity and accused it of failing to meet campaign promises.
In a statement signed by its president, Enoch Ortese, the group criticized the administration for the increasing attacks on rural communities and the growing population of internally displaced persons (IDPs), despite the anti-open grazing law. They recalled that the governor had pledged to return IDPs to their communities within his first 100 days in office, a promise they claim remains unfulfilled.
The group also demanded full disclosure of state finances, including revenue, expenditures, and contract details, and raised questions about the continued lack of autonomy for local government areas in the state.
They said, “Rather than resettling displaced persons, more camps and tents are being built. The people of Benue deserve clarity on the government’s plan for their return.”
In defense, Governor Alia said his administration had made progress in managing the state’s finances, revealing that six out of seven months’ salary arrears inherited from the previous government had been cleared.
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