The chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), Justice Aderonke Aderemi (rtd), has disclosed that the agency has succeeded in curbing open grazing and farmers-herders clashes across many locations in the state.
Highlighting some of the successes of the authority while speaking at the Omitutun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing in Ibadan, Aderemi said, “We were able to settle the farmers-herders’ crisis at Ido.
“People wrote petitions to us, and we dealt with the issue. This is how we address farmers-herders’ issues; when the farmers report to us, what we do is to go there to investigate. We know when the herders would come out with their cows.
“The law says you must bring evidence. Isn’t that so? So what we do is that even if it is as early as 5 a.m., we will go there waiting with the Enforcement Team. Once they come out, we arrest them. We’ll arrest the cow, even if the herders run away. The cows cannot get away that fast. That is what we have been doing.’’
According to her, once the authorities arrest the cows, the herders will show up and want them to release the cows to them, adding that if they fail to show up, they will sell the cows.
“The law permits us to sell the cows. That is what the law says. And, once we sell the cows, we give the money to the farmers, because their farms have been destroyed. That’s what the law says.
“If we arrest the cows and they are with us for seven days, after seven days, those cows have to be sold. However, if they are in court, we have to wait because the judge will have to give judgment first.”
She added that after the judgment, and the herders refused to come to claim the cow, they would sell it and use the money to compensate the farmers.
“I can tell you that many farmers are coming up, as we are dealing with a lot of petitions. We are going to Ogbomoso, Saki and Eruwa. We are travelling all over the place now. Once you tell us, you know I said see it, say it, and we will sort it out.
“Once we know what is happening anywhere in Oyo State, within our own jurisdiction, we are ready to go. We will be there to sort it out. So, people should go back to the farms.”
According to her, the state government has been working hard to ensure that residents comply with established regulations and live in a peaceful and safe environment.
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