Open grazing now attracts five-year jail term in Oyo

Open grazing of livestock now attracts a five-year prison sentence in Oyo State.

Ripples gathered this was one of the provisions in the state’s anti-open gracing bill passed by the State House of Assembly on Saturday.

The bill titled: “The Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Bill, 2019,” which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, his Deputy, Abiodun Fadeyi, Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin and Minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape, was made available to journalists late on Saturday.

According to the bill, herdsmen, cattle rearers or any other persons who rear or graze cattle or any other livestock openly in any part of Oyo State now risk at least five years jail term or a fine of N500,000.00 or both if found guilty.

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It was learnt that the bill had scaled through at the Assembly despite the resistance from some herdsmen in the state who threatened the lawmakers with legal actions.

The bill is currently awaiting Governor Seyi Makinde’s assent and will come into effect after the governor signs it.

It recommends that subsequent offenders shall upon conviction be liable to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of N2 million or both.

It also recommends the herdsmen to submit themselves for registration and get an identification card, which must be worn at all times.

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