The Bayelsa State Anti-Open Grazing Task Force has impounded forty-five cattle belonging to herders for violating the law which restricts movement of cattle and other livestock within the state.
Chairman of the anti-grazing task force and Commissioner for Agriculture, David Alagoa told journalists in Yenagoa that the impoundment became necessary to demonstrate the will of government to end open grazing in Bayelsa State.
The Bayelsa State Anti-Open Grazing Task Force was established in response to rising tension generated by violent conflicts between cattle herders and farmers in the State.
The taskforce which is being empowered by the Bayelsa Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law, is for the first time making an impoundment of thirty-four cattle for violating the legislation.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan described the incident as regrettable, after adequate sensitization has been carried out to enlighten everyone.
As at the time of filing this report it was gathered that an additional eleven cattle has further been Impounded and the dealers are making arrangements to pay a fine to the Bayelsa State government, which may not be up to the one hundred thousand naira per cattle penalty, being a first time offence.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
