Photo caption: Open grazing
Oyo State Government, on Thursday, declared that anti-open grazing law is still in force in the state.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, announced this during an inter-ministerial press briefing held in Ibadan, the state capital.
He said more than 58 cows have been arrested in the last two years, while many erring herdsmen were charged to the court for violating the law.
The PUNCH reports that the State House of Assembly had, in 2019, passed the anti-open grazing bill, which was later signed into law by the state governor, Seyi Makinde.
Olaleye warned that anyone found culpable of violating the law would be dealt with.
The commissioner explained that the State Government had constructed a security post at Ijaye Farm Settlement with a view to strengthening security.
“Oyo is the safest for farmers. We have enough arable farmlands. We have the highest number of Amotekun personnel. The state is now safe for farmers who have the intention to go into commercial farming.
“More than 58 cows have been arrested in the last two years. We have imposed fines on many herdsmen for violating the law. We have charged some herdsmen to court.
“The anti-open grazing law is still in force. We have constructed a security post at Ijaye Farm Settlement. So, no farmer has left the Ijaye Farm Settlement.
“In order to ensure food security, we have also talked with some communities to give us their lands they are not using for us to use for agricultural production,” he added.
