From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State government has clamped down on violators of the Anti-open Grazing Law in the state.
To this end, it arrested 44 cows found grazing along Imiringi road, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Douye Diri had on March 10, 2021 signed into law the Anti-open Grazing Law known as Livestock Breeding Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law.
He also set up the Livestock Management Committee headed by the Commissioner for Agricultural Resources, Mr David Alagoa, with members drawn from the security agencies.
However, many farmers in Imiringi, Elebele and Emeyal in Ogbia Local Government Area, Tombia and Okutukutu in Yenagoa Local Government Area have been complaining of the destructive activities of cows despite the law.
The farmers had lodged their complaint to Alagoa and the state task force to help arrest the situation before things got out of hand.
Alagoa had during a patrol at the weekend arrested the cows, while the herders escaped into the bush to evade arrest.
The arrest followed a complaint to the task force by farmers along Imiringi road near Megastar camp where the cows were said to have destroyed crops.
Alagoa said the task force would continue to take action to demonstrate that the state government would not condone flouting of its laws.
Meanwhile one of the farmers, Mr Tempo, explained that his farm at Elebele where he planted maize and cassava was destroyed by cows.
He urged the state government to take more action because any farmer that tries to confront the herders is usually threatened with attack.