Fayose signs Ekiti Anti-Grazing Bill into law
Tue Aug 30, 2016 01:12:pm Gist
2.3K By Buchi Obichie
The Ekiti state "Anti Grazing Bill 2016" which was recently passed by the State House of Assembly, was on Monday signed into law by the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.
The bill was sponsored by the executive after the killing of two persons by suspected herdsmen in Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Governor, the new law would check cases of incessant attacks or killings of local residents and destruction of farmlands by herdsmen and their cattle.
Fayose said that the law would also strengthen security in various communities across the state, adding that anyone who fouled the law stood the risk of being treated as terrorist.
"With the signing into law of this bill today, anyone caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism and be made to face the law according to certain sections of it.
"The same goes for those who graze in prohibited areas or go against the time frame of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. allowed for open grazing,'' the governor said.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kolawole Oluwawole, who had earlier given an overview of the bill, said Lawmakers had given it accelerated hearing in order to maintain peace and order in Ekiti.
According to Oluwawole, grazing periods would now be restricted to between 7a.m. and 6p.m., and the State Government was already working with Local Government authorities to allocate portions of land for grazing in their areas.
He said, "Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by Government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.
"Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism.
"Any Cattle confiscated shall be taken to Government cattle ranch at Erifun and Iworoko Ekiti community in the state.
"Any farm crop destroyed by the activities of any apprehended herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officers and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit.
"Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine."
The bill was sponsored by the executive after the killing of two persons by suspected herdsmen in Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Governor, the new law would check cases of incessant attacks or killings of local residents and destruction of farmlands by herdsmen and their cattle.
Fayose said that the law would also strengthen security in various communities across the state, adding that anyone who fouled the law stood the risk of being treated as terrorist.
"With the signing into law of this bill today, anyone caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism and be made to face the law according to certain sections of it.
"The same goes for those who graze in prohibited areas or go against the time frame of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. allowed for open grazing,'' the governor said.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kolawole Oluwawole, who had earlier given an overview of the bill, said Lawmakers had given it accelerated hearing in order to maintain peace and order in Ekiti.
According to Oluwawole, grazing periods would now be restricted to between 7a.m. and 6p.m., and the State Government was already working with Local Government authorities to allocate portions of land for grazing in their areas.
He said, "Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by Government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.
"Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism.
"Any Cattle confiscated shall be taken to Government cattle ranch at Erifun and Iworoko Ekiti community in the state.
"Any farm crop destroyed by the activities of any apprehended herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officers and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit.
"Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine."
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