Bayelsa Gov vows strict enforcement of anti-grazing law

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has stated that the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on those who violate the state’s Anti-Grazing Law to ensure the continued protection of citizens’ lives and property.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this statement during an interactive meeting with local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and other community leaders from six local government areas currently experiencing herdsmen’s invasions.

He stressed that the Anti-Grazing Law of the state was enacted to forestall violent clashes between herders and farmland owners, which have resulted in the wanton destruction of lives and property in some parts of the country.

Senator Diri, who condemned the recent incidents reportedly perpetrated by herdsmen in some communities in the state, said that about two weeks ago, a woman from Amarata community in Yenagoa, the state capital, was raped by cattle rearers on her farm, while another was attacked and killed in Ogbia.

The governor reiterated his charge to traditional rulers and local government council chairmen to take charge of their domains and enforce the Anti-Grazing Law to ensure peace and stability across the state’s communities.

He also called on youths, particularly youth presidents, community development committees (CDCs), and women leaders, to remain vigilant against any security breaches in their communities and report such incidents to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

Governor Diri further directed all local government council chairmen to activate the Anti-Grazing Law by forming enforcement committees and submitting the list of committee members within the next three days to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

His words: “By Friday, all local government council chairmen must submit their anti-grazing committee members to the office of the SSG. We are in a semi-emergency situation, and we need to deal with it as an emergency.

“Going forward, paramount rulers of communities that superintend their areas as second- or third-class rulers must monitor and promptly report to the government. If you don’t report to us and we come there to find out, you will be our guest through the police. So the responsibility of keeping your domain safe is now laid on your shoulders.”

“Youth presidents should not concern themselves only with issues of development levies. I am a little bit embarrassed that the same Epie-Atissa youths who are always going around collecting money from anybody who wants to develop their land cannot go to the forest and challenge these herdsmen. That is cowardice, timidity, and primitivity.

“This meeting is to remind all that an Anti-Grazing Law exists in this state. And the governor, despite his lenient, simple, and peace-loving disposition, will not allow this Ijaw land to be invaded by any herdsmen.

“No inch of Ijaw land has ever been conquered. If our fathers handed over an unconquered land to us, then we have a duty to protect that unconquered territory and also hand it over to our children unconquered,” he declared.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, emphasised the need for effective collaboration between communities, clans, and the state government to check the menace, stressing that open grazing is not allowed in the state.

In their contributions, the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, and the Paramount Ruler of Igbogene Community, Prof. Augustine Ekein, urged the government to be more preventive by effectively policing the entry points of the herdsmen and their animals.

While acknowledging the role of community leaders in implementing the Anti-Grazing Law, they submitted that not much would be achieved with mere reporting of the presence of herdsmen in the communities if drastic measures were not taken against violators of the law.

Also speaking, the Paramount Ruler of Edepie Community, Chief Shadrach Etidie, recalled the harrowing experience his community suffered at the hands of the police for taking steps to tackle the menace and urged security agencies to support communities in enforcing the Anti-Grazing Law.

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