Bayelsa State Government has enacted a law prohibiting open grazing of livestock in the state.
Governor Douye Diri assented to the Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law 2021, at the Executive Chamber of Government House in Yenagoa.
He said the essence of the law is to ensure harmonious living between cattle dealers and other inhabitants of the state and to forestall violent clashes being experienced in other parts of the country.
The law, according to him, stipulates that any herdsman found with arms, whether licenced or not, should be arrested.
He also stated that the law establishes a livestock management committee to regulate livestock activities in the state.
Members of the committee include the Commissioner for Agriculture, security agencies, youths and others.
The law prohibits movement of cattle on foot from other parts of the country into the state, inspection of livestock and certification by veterinary doctors at entry points into the state among others.
Diri said by assenting to the law, any person found engaging in open grazing of livestock on foot commits an offence and would be arrested and prosecuted with the livestock impounded.
