Benue State Commissioner for Power and Transportation, Omale Omale, has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently enforce the Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition Law across the country.
This follows the recent deadly attack on Akpete community in Apa Local Government Area, where four people were killed by suspected armed herdsmen.
Omale, who hails from Apa LGA, described the Akpete killings as one too many, labeling the attack as “dastardly and heinous.”;
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and displacement of residents, while offering his condolences to the bereaved families.
“This is one too many unwarranted attacks on our people,”; Omale said in a statement on Friday.
“The complexity and consistency of these attacks are deeply worrying. We must move beyond local efforts and match state laws with national commitment.”;
He stressed that the Anti-Open Grazing Law passed in Benue must be enforced beyond the state level to have meaningful impact.
Omale urged the National Assembly to adopt the same legislation at the federal level and empower security agencies and subnational governments to enforce it uniformly.
“There is no plausible explanation for these attacks anymore, whether it’s the outdated Fulani-farmer clashes narrative or cattle rustling. None justifies the murder of innocent citizens. The time has come for collective national action,”; he said.
Omale disclosed that the state government had already directed the deployment of additional military personnel to the area, while the Apa Council Chairman convened an emergency security meeting.
He also called on traditional leaders, youth groups, and local stakeholders to rise in defense of their communities.
“This is not the time for blame. It is time for leadership. We must evolve new strategic safety and protection measures. The lives, properties, and dignity of our people are at stake.”;
The commissioner lamented the frequency of such attacks and said the pain, destruction and displacement they bring are deeply regrettable.
