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Bayelsa bans open grazing, to arrest armed herders

Open grazing of livestock is now prohibited in Bayelsa State.

The prohibition came into force on Wednesday after Governor Douye Diri signed into law the Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law 2021 at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Yenagoa.

Diri said the law was to ensure harmonious living between cattle dealers and other inhabitants of the state and to forestall 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 while signing the bill.

The law, according to him, stipulates that any herdsman found with arms, whether licenced or not, should be arrested.

The law also established a livestock management committee to regulate livestock activities in the state, he said, adding that the committee membership would include the Commissioner for Agriculture, security agencies, youths and others.

He further said: “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 prohibits movement of cattle on foot from other parts of the country into the state, inspection of livestock and certification by veterinary doctors at entry points into the state among others.

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.

The governor also signed into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021.

He explained that the law was to prevent certain harmful practices against women and children.

He said with its enactment, Bayelsa had domesticated the federal law, which had been in existence.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Mr Abraham Ingobere, while presenting the bills for the governor’s assent, said the livestock regulation bill was to prevent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Also giving an insight into the VAPP Bill, which was sponsored by Hon. Tari Porri, the Speaker said the aim was to eliminate violence against women and to also ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

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