In a bid to check indiscriminate grazing and violent
clashes between farmers and herdsmen, the Bayelsa government has donated 1,200
hectares of land to cattle herdsmen, for grazing cattle in the state.
The state government had in December 2016 announced the
restriction of the activities of herdsmen in the state to the Bayelsa Palm area
in Yenagoa.
According to the government, its decision was to prevent
the invasion of farmlands and check any security breaches.
Chairman, Cattle Ranches Management and Control
Committee, Mr. Shitu Mohammed, said at a news conference in Yenagoa on Sunday
that the 1,200 hectares of land was for ranch developent, grazing and
slaughtering of cattle.
During the interactive session which comprised
stakeholders such as the herdsmen, butchers, farmers and security agencies,
Mohammed said more ranches would be donated to the cattle rearers in the state.
Mohammed, who commended Governor Dickson and the Bayelsa
government for releasing the land, said the gesture would help to sustain the
lasting peace that had existed between herdsmen and farmers in the state.
He noted that the committee was set up by the state
government to foster cordial relationship between cattle rearers, farmers and
the people of Bayelsa.
Mohammed further noted that there were no cases of
violence by the herdsmen in Bayelsa, rationalising that the committee in
collaboration with the state government and security agencies had put in place
quick response mechanisms.
He called on Bayelsa people to see the provision of the
ranch by the state government as a welcome development, saying that the development
would create job opportunities for the people and enhance tourism development.
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