Benue State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the bill prohibiting open rearing and grazing of animals in any part of the state.
The bill entitled, “A bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment, regulation and control and other matters connected there with, 2017” would now abolish the roaming of cows and the carrying of arms by herders in the state when assented to by the state governor.
Speaker of the Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, presided over the clause by clause deliberation on the bill before its final passage at the floor of the House following unanimous acceptance by the lawmakers.
Also, the Assembly minority leader, Alhaji Sule Audu, in an interview with our correspondent shortly after the passage of the bill expressed hope that Governor Samuel Ortom would sign the bill into law without any delay.
The agitation for the bill to be passed by people of the state and some non-governmental organisations had in recent times led to several protests which forced the Assembly to expedite action after it held public hearing on the matter in March across the three senatorial district of the state. (Daily Trust)