Enactment of open grazing prohibition law, only solution to herdsmen attacks – Sen Zam

The Senator representing Benue North West Senatorial District, Titus Zam, has said that the enactment of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law by the National Assembly is only option yet to be explored that would end incessant attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria.

Zam made this statement on the floor of the Red Chamber on Tuesday while reacting to comments by his colleague from Kogi State.

“The farmers/herders crisis has defied every effort, the only option left to be explored is enactment of a law prohibiting open grazing, so that if you are carrying your cows from Zamfara to Makurdi, you must not kill everybody along the road as there is a law against that,” Zam said.

The federal lawmaker added that cattle rearing is a private business, so there is no need for herders to move cattle from one state to another, causing violence as they graze freely on farmlands in another state.

He decried the level of killings in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen, stating that it is unfortunate that some ethnic groups have amassed weapons to fight and kill other tribes, taking over their ancestral homes and chasing them away.

Zam also questioned why Nigeria, with fewer cattle than countries like the US, is unable to practice ranching like those countries.

The lawmaker promised to present a bill to stop open grazing when the Senate reconvenes.