Yusuf Bello| The Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, on Saturday apologised to Governor Samuel Ortom for the herdsmen attacks and killings in Benue State.
The national secretary of the association, Saleh Alhassan tendered the apology at an event in Makurdi, the state capital.
Alhassan who described governor Ortom as a peace-loving man, said Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore regretted the killings in Benue and pledged to ensure peaceful coexistence between herdsmen and farmers in the state going forward.
He assured the people of the state that Miyetti Allah would embrace the peace initiatives put forward by the governor.
Governor Ortom while responding noted the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law by the state government was aimed at ending the killing of innocent people and to encourage ranching as the global best practice of animal husbandry.
According to him, any person or ethnic group wishing to rear livestock in the state was free to come, acquire land, and ranch, according to provisions of the Ranching Law of the state.
Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, he explained protects both farmers and livestock owners, stressing that the law was not targeted at promoting crisis of any kind.
Saturday’s peace initiative was brokered by the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyeama, at a wedding reception in the state capital.
Speaking earlier, Onyema said his decision to personally bring Saleh to broker peace between Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and the people of the state was based on the need for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in Benue.
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