The Oyo State Government, through the Taskforce Team of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), on Thursday apprehended a herdsman and impounded nine cows grazing openly along the fence of the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The cows were spotted grazing near the motorcycle park, also known as the “Okada” park, beside the Secretariat gate. They were closely monitored by the taskforce team and subsequently captured.
The OYRLEA taskforce identified the violation as both an environmental and agricultural offence.
The incident was immediately reported to the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and the State’s Parliament Police Division at the Secretariat, Agodi.
Additional, personnel were deployed to secure the cows, which were later taken to the Ministry of Agriculture for further action.
Speaking on the matter, the Chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi, emphasized that the offence contravened the Oyo State anti-open grazing law of 2019. She ordered the immediate prosecution of the offender.
During a tribunal session held at the Ministry of Environment, the case, tagged Charge No. OYRLEA/19/12/2024, was presided over by Barrister Kunle Abimbola.
The prosecuting counsel, N.Y. Aderibigbe, filed a four-count charge against the offender, Nurudeen Semiu, based on the anti-open grazing law.
The accused pleaded guilty to the first two charges but not guilty to the remaining counts. After deliberations, the tribunal found him guilty of open grazing violations and imposed a fine of ₦1,700,000 or an alternative sentence of five years imprisonment.
This development highlights the Oyo State Government’s commitment to enforcing the anti-open grazing law and ensuring the protection of agricultural and environmental resources.