The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to immediately enforce the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, warning that the ongoing security crises across communities pose a grave threat to peace, safety, and livelihoods.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, the PDP described the law, enacted in 2017, as the most viable and sustainable solution to the violent clashes and instability plaguing the state.
“We reaffirm our steadfast support for the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state as popularly enacted in 2017,” the statement read. “The law is the product of rigorous consultations, extensive deliberations, and the collective will of our people. It was crafted to promote peace, security, and economic stability across Benue.”
The party urged both Governor Alia and President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate the political will to fully implement the law, warning that further delay could worsen the situation.
“It is crucial to communicate clearly to the Federal Government, and especially to the President of Nigeria, that there is no vacant land in Benue State to be shared with those who seek to undermine our state and threaten our peace,” the PDP stated. “Our land is sacred—an ancestral inheritance that sustains our people—and we will not yield to external pressures or intimidation.”
The PDP cautioned against any move to repeal or weaken the law, insisting that the time for deliberations is over and that only decisive enforcement will restore order and safeguard agricultural livelihoods.
“We urge Governor Hyacinth Alia to maintain the integrity of the law and resist any attempts to dilute its effectiveness,” the statement added. “While we acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the presidential committee on the matter, the time for prolonged debates has passed. Our people deserve swift, resolute action.”
The PDP reiterated its full support for the law as the cornerstone of Benue’s strategy to resolve its worsening security crisis, calling on all relevant authorities to act without further delay.
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