The Delta State House of Assembly has vowed to collaborate with the executive arm to ensure compliance with the anti-grazing law.
The assembly expressed concern that three years after the anti-grazing bill was passed and signed into law, herders still engage in open grazing in the State.
To address this, the house, in line with its oversight functions and through the assembly committee on legislative compliance, has summoned a stakeholders’ meeting at the state assembly complex to seek the way forward.
The Committee, led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, expressed concern that violators of the Anti-Open Grazing Law are freely operating on the streets and vowed to take decisive action in collaboration with the executive to ensure full compliance.
At the meeting attended by security agencies in the state, as well as members of the Delta State Livestock Management Committee, the lawmakers highlighted the disturbing trend of killings, maiming, and raping of innocent farmers and residents in the state by herdsmen.
The Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House stated that this unfortunate situation has continued unabated despite the law banning open grazing in the state.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, Akpowowo, clearly dissatisfied with the situation, emphasized that the state legislature is fully committed to ensuring that the open grazing law and all other laws passed by the assembly are implemented and strictly obeyed in the state.
He said, “You will recall that about two weeks ago, it was reported here in this hallowed chamber that a farmer was killed in Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state. Also, last year, in my constituency, Abraka, some farmers were killed as they were attacked by herdsmen on their farm.”
“In every part of Delta State, the story is similar. There is hardly a week without a distressing story related to the activities of herdsmen in the state. This must not continue, especially when there is an existing law prohibiting open grazing in the state. The law is made to be obeyed, and it must be obeyed to the letter,” Akpowowo lamented.
Further, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance noted that until the state, and indeed the country, takes firm action on the harmful activities of herders, the challenge of food shortages will persist.
Akpowowo revealed that the committee has instructed the security agencies in the state to be proactive in arresting, apprehending, and prosecuting offenders of the law, stressing that no one should be exempt from the law.
He stated that the House would be pleased to see violators of the law prosecuted to deter lawlessness in society.
The Deputy Speaker mentioned that the Committee would convene another meeting soon, involving other critical stakeholders, in its efforts to find a lasting solution to the challenges posed by herdsmen in the state.
Other members of the committee include the House Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi; Minority Leader, Dafe Emakpor; Chief Whip, Perkins Umukoro; Deputy Majority Leader, Festus Okoh; Majority Whip, Bernerd Odior; and Hon. Pereotu Oloye, who represents Burutu 2 constituency in the House.
