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Fayose signs Bill to charge armed herdsmen as terrorist

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The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said that errant herdsmen who go about with firearms, or other dangerous weapons will be charged and prosecuted as terrorist.

He made this known on Monday when he signed the bill entitled, “Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti 2016” into law, during a meeting with traditional rulers and chiefs at the Government’s House in Ado Ekiti.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kolawole Oluwawole read the bill to the hearing of the traditional rulers, hinting that plans are on ground to allocate land for grazing in all the state’s local government areas.

Governor Fayose, signing the bill into law at the meeting, explained that the reason for the meeting was to carry along the traditional rulers and chiefs on security issues and other crimes in the state.

“My government took the bill to the House after what happened in Oke Ako a few months ago. The House has passed the bill and I have to give my assent to it. It becomes a law from today that if you do anything to the contrary, you will be punished according to the law. Any herdsman caught with firearms or any weapon while grazing in Ekiti now will be charged with terrorism.”

The Speaker making the content of the bill clearer, explained that grazing activities must be from 7am to 6pm on a daily basis.

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“The government shall allot certain portion of land to each local government for grazing. Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by the government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.

“Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism. Any cattle confiscated shall be taken to the government cattle ranch at Erifun in Iworoko community.

“Any farm products destroyed by the activities of any caught herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officer and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit. Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without an option of fine,” he said.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

 

 

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