Oyo state Government is considering serious implementation process of Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law 2019 as one of the way to stem the tides of farmer/herders clash in Oke Ogun and other part of the state
The law which was signed 2019 by the state government states that anyone who engages in open rearing or grazing of livestock is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for five years or a fine of N500,000 or both. Subsequent offenders shall, upon conviction, be liable to 10-year imprisonment or a fine of N2 million or both.
Governor had on few occasions promises implementation of the law with setting up of a taskforce but nothing serious has been done since.
In recent time there have been record of fatalities occasioned by the clash. between herdsers and farmers in Iwere ile and Otu, lives were losts, properties were destroyed.
The governor in a newsletter which he personally signed said “Just last week, it was in the international news that crime rates had reached an all-time high in England and Wales. We are experiencing a similar resurgence in parts of Oke-Ogun. We have already taken action to nip these in the bud. We have been meeting with various security agencies, providing the needed support, and doing our best to stay on top of the situation”
“We have provided the 615 emergency contact number and the Amotekun numbers across all local government areas to respond to such criminal activities quickly. We have also increased the vehicular capacity of security agencies to increase the speed of response in the short term, while we work out other long-term solutions to this recurring incident.”
“One of the things we are working on is the implementation process of our Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law 2019. I will be sharing some of these actions in future newsletters. We also know that the economy is forcing some people to turn to crime. So, we are looking at more ways to inject funds into our economy and use empowerment as an economic stimulant.”
On the SAfER implementation, Makinde appreciated hinted that he has called for a comprehensive report on the SAfER implementation so far. “Also, we have made some quick adjustments, which you will begin to see, especially with the loan disbursement to YEAP beneficiaries.”
