Bayelsa bans open grazing; armed herders The prohibition came into force on Wednesday with the signing into law by Governor Douye Diri, the Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law 2021.
The occasion held at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Yenagoa.
Diri said the law was to ensure harmonious living between cattle rearers/ dealers and other inhabitants of the state.
The law is also to forestall in Bayelsa State the violent clashes being experienced in other parts of the country.
“Bayelsa State welcomes all and sundry to eke out a living legitimately.
“The people of Bayelsa want to have a mutual and harmonious relationship with non-natives and natives.
“The essence of the law is to avert and forestall any clash between herdsmen, farmers, natives and non-natives as experienced in some states,” the governor stated.
The law, according to him, stipulated that any herdsman found with arms, whether licenced or not, should be arrested.
The law also establishes a livestock management committee to regulate livestock activities in the state.
The governor said that the committee membership would include the Commissioner for Agriculture, security agencies, youths and others.
He stated: “From the commencement of the law, no person shall breed, rear or trade in livestock in the state in any other place as may be designated by the committee and approved by the state government.”
The law also prohibits movement of cattle on foot from other parts of the country into the state.
Diri said by assenting to the law, any person found engaging in open grazing of livestock on foot commits an offence and would be arrested and prosecuted with the livestock impounded.
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