Arrested Benue Herdsman Reveals Sponsor, Says Others Coming

The Benue State Livestock Guards have arrested a Fulani herdsman identified as Amandu Wakili suspected to be responsible for the recent attacks on some communities in the state.

Wakili, who was arrested in company of other herdsmen, disclosed that they were working for one Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku.

Addressing journalists on Thursday in Makurdi, the state capital, Mallam Wakili claimed that Tershaku asked herdsmen, including him to return to the state and continue with grazing of cattle in defiance of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

The herder, who was arrested in one of the communities bordering University of Agriculture Makurdi yesterday while openly grazing his cattle, said they were instructed to move to Benue but be watchful to resist cattle rustling while also avoiding destruction of farms.

Speaking in Hausa, Wakili said two of his fellow herders who were with him ran away with their cattle while he was arrested and taken to Makurdi by operatives of the Livestock Guards.

The herder disclosed that they came to the state from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, adding that more of their members were billed to relocate to Benue on the instructions of their leaders.

Also speaking, the State Commandant of Livestock Guards, Mr. Linus Zaki, said they received intelligence reports that herders were grazing openly around University of Agriculture Makurdi communities and swiftly sent his patrol men who arrested Mallam Wakili for contravening the state’s Ranching Law.

He said the herder was arrested with a cutlass with which he used to resist arrest but was later overpowered by men of the Livestock Guards and taken away to the state office of the agency.

According to the Commandant, Mallam Wakili would be handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution.

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