Tola Gbadamosi
The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, has seized over 200 cows for flouting the Anti-open Grazing Law of the State as the herders fled.
The cows were arrested on Thursday at about 10pm to 12 midnight at the Owena Dame in Ifedore Local Government area of Ondo State. After the herdsmen sighted the men of the Corp they flee.
Comfirming the arrest of the cows, the Commander of Ondo Amotekun Corps Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said, ‘ we got a distress call from farmers that over 500 cows had ravaged their farms in Owena, border town.
“Our men went at about 10 pm and actually arrested 200 back to the Command at about 12 midnight.
“We observed that two underaged were found with the cows as all the herdsmen had ran away.
We waited till yesterday morning until the farmers union around the area came. Since we couldn’t find the herders, we came with the cows to the office.
” We are sure that they will come over soonest. Because the Anti open grazing law is still on ground and has been enforced. It is forbidden for the cows to graze at night and for the underaged to control.
“These are all the provisions that are on ground and of course, the law will take its course. In the last three months we have been on public enlightenment for the herders and farmers.
Akogun Adeleye reiterated the position of the government which stipulates that all herders should register with the state government and obtain the right to graze, but must not destroy crops in peoples’ farm.
“So, once the farmers and herders understand the limitation between each other, there’ll be no problem. There will always be raining and dry seasons. We are reverting back to the days that farmers can confidently go to their farms to take crops and nothing will happen to them.
The Amotekun boss emphasised that the joint patrol of the security check point in the state is still on going, saying, “In a couple of days, we will brief the public. But we are resolute for the fact that the law banning tinted glass and vehicles without numbers after six months of purchase is still on,”he added.
