By Grace Eshedagho
ASABA/Nigeria: In a bid to achieve peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen in the state, the Delta State Livestock Management Committee said it has commenced arrangements with critical stakeholders to start the enforcement of the anti-open-grazing law in Delta State within the next three month.
Speaking during a sensitisation visit to the Obi of Owa Kingdom, HRM, Obi (Dr) Emmanuel Efeizomor II, in Agbor, and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders and Dealers Association in Asaba. the Chairman of the Livestock Management Committee, Chief Julius Egbedi said that as stakeholders in the state and leaders in their various communities, their support would make their job easy.
Egbedi recalled that the DLMC was inaugurated by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 with a charge to implement the Delta State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing, and Marketing Regulation Law 2021 thereby bringing about an end to the farmer/ herder crises.
He stated that the visit was to solicit his support and to enable the committee interface with traditional rulers during their monthly meeting.
In the same vein, while speaking to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders and Dealers Association, he advised them to liaise with community leaders to secure land to be set aside for grazing of their cattle and where the need arose, to notify the committee to aid them in securing land.
He further revealed that the state government would set up committees and taskforce in each of the 25 local government areas of the state for effective implementation of the law, adding that the law would become effective in three months’ time.
Responding, Obi Efeizomor II commended the effort of the committee members in working to achieve the agenda of the state governor and assured the committee of his support.
He lamented the ordeal being experienced by farmers in the state due to the infiltration of criminal herders into communities in the state.
“I am almost 84 years old and more than 62 years on the throne, I have never seen a situation where every dick and harry are discussing one thing, and it appears those who perpetrate these things are above the law.
“But I want to thank the state government for the step taken, at least bringing a law, for sometime they say there is no law, now there is law,” he said.
He said that with the new law, which he referred to as ‘baptism of hope’ an end would come to the menace.
Also responding, the Vice Chairman, Cattle Dealers, Alhaji Ibrahim Yunus, and the State Chairman, Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Musa Dariu, thanked the committee but sought clarification on certain issues.
They complained that prior to the implementation of the law, some hoodlums in their various host communities had at various occasions carried out unprovoked attacks on peaceful herders and killed their cattle.
They appealed for the committee to look into such issues even as they called for restraints by the hoodlums, pledging their commitment to remain law-abiding and called on the state government to help them secure land for their cattle.
Present in the entourage was the Director General on security of the state, David Tonwe; Dept of State Services, Mr Jonah Nwigwe; representative of the Nigerian Police Force, CSP Austine Duru; and the representative of the Ministry of Justice, Erhuvwu Akpoghene.
Others were the Director of Livestock Services, MANR, Mr Julius Omunizua; Director of Veterinary Services, MANR, Dr. Charles Diai; Secretary MANR, Dr Augustine Ojogbo, representative from the three senatorial districts and the representative of the state Butchers Union, Mr Chuks Acha.
Highlight of the visits were presentation of copies of the law to the monarch; chairman, Miyetti Allah in the state, and the vice chairman, Cattle Breeder Association.
