Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue state has promised to appear at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Hague, to answer charges filed against him by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over the seizure of 25,000 cows from herders in the state.
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hoore, through its Secretary General, Alhaji Saleh Alhassan, claimed to have approached ICC to file charges against Ortom’s administration, for allegedly seizing 25,000 cows, as well as the arrest and detention of over 4,000 herders.
The Governor in the statement by his special assistant on media, Nathaniel Ikyur, expressed his readiness to meet the Fulani socio-cultural group in Hague, Netherlands. “Tell Miyetti Allah and all its leadership that I am ready to meet them in court, anywhere.”
Read: Gov Ortom Fumes, Says He Was Denied Access To Receive Osinbajo
Ortom harped that, as the governor of the state, he was executing a law enacted in the state which according to him, “it remains a win-win” for the herders and farmers.
The Governor alleged that “Unfortunately, what we see is that the terrorists come with the sole intention to take over our ancestral lands and not to graze”.
He insisted that the implementation of the law banning open grazing in the state is irrevocable, and “Let those who are threatening to take me to court understand that every law is meant to be obeyed. “For the avoidance of doubts, Benue people agreed for the law to be implemented. We are, therefore, enforcing the law.
He further alleged that instead of Miyetti Allah directing their members who wish to live and do business in Benue State to abide by the law, they have continued to sponsor acts of terror against Benue people, killing and destroying properties worth billions of naira.
“As such, our officials do not go outside of the state boundaries to make any arrests of herds of cattle that violate our laws”, he added.
