Anti-open grazing: Bayelsa Government Arrests 34 Cows

The Bayelsa State Government has arrested 34 cows for allegedly violating the state’s anti-open grazing law.
It was gathered that the Bayelsa State Livestock Management Committee (BSLMC) impounded the 34 cows in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The cows were impounded yesterday around the Bayelsa Palm area of the state capital.
The Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Bill was passed into law about three months ago.
Bayelsa Government made the disclosure through the Chairman of the Livestock Management Committee and Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr David Alagoa, on Wednesday.
He stated that the herders chose a convenient time in the night to graze, saying that some of the cows were spotted grazing in farmlands.
According to him, ” the committee would follow the anti-open grazing law strictly, declaring that the impounded cows would remain in custody until necessary fees were paid before their release.
“Besides, there is also a movement by trekking from Bayelsa Palm to the Swali Slaughter and that tend to happen about 1:00 a.m.
“That is why you see that behind us, at the end of this road is Bayelsa Palm Estate and we were able to impound 34 cows last night.
“We are going to follow the law. The law states that when we impound, there is also a fee to be paid in that process. We are going to follow the law”, he said.