Relocate to grazing site or risk being arrested - Bayelsa govt warns Herdsmen

Bayelsa State government said it will, henceforth, arrest herdsmen who graze with their cattle elsewhere, other than the designated grazing site at the Bayelsa Palm area.

This is coming on the heels of the successful apprehension and relocation of a group of herdsmen from the Ijaw National Academy in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state to the designated grazing site.

In a statement made in Yenagoa, the special adviser to the governor on security matters, Chief Boma Spero-Jack, stated that the warning has become imperative because despite directives to this effect, a number of herdsmen have refused to relocate to the grazing area.

He restated the government’s position, stressing that the decision to create a grazing site was purely for security reasons to avoid a possible breakdown of law and order that could arise in case of any clash between the herdsmen and farmers or any other group of Bayelsans.

He reassured the people of the state that the government would stop at nothing to protect the lives and property of the citizens, as well as protect the overall interest of the Ijaw nation.

Chief Spero-Jack, however, called for the cooperation of every Bayelsan, as the government was doing its utmost best to avert any likely breakdown of law and order and urged all to be vigilant and not be deceived into believing that the leadership of the state was ceding valuable land to herdsmen.

He described such unfounded stories as the handiwork of mischief makers who are more interested in themselves and the political gains they want to make and clearly not about the interest of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation.