Oyo impounds 20 cows over alleged open grazing, crop destruction

The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) has impounded 20 cows during separate enforcement operations in Ibadan over alleged violations of the state’s open grazing regulations.

The operations, carried out in collaboration with security agencies, took place at Batake Village along the Ibadan-Eruwa Road and Idi-Iroko in the Moniya area of Ibadan.

OYRLEA Chairperson, Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd.), disclosed the development in a post on X on Thursday.

She said the first operation was conducted at about dawn on Wednesday, September 30, following a petition from Adewolu Farms over alleged repeated encroachment by cattle and destruction of crops on its farmland.

The farm, according to the authority, grows cassava, maize, yam and cashew.

Aderemi said enforcement officers and security personnel moved into the area after receiving the complaint, but the herders allegedly attempted to take the cattle away after noticing their presence.

Nine cows were nevertheless seized during the operation.

Another enforcement exercise was conducted early on Thursday, October 1, at Idi-Iroko, Moniya, where 11 more cows were impounded.

The authority said the second operation involved allegations of residential cattle rearing and open grazing.

The two operations brought the number of cattle seized by OYRLEA to 20.

The authority said the enforcement actions were undertaken as part of efforts to implement the Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2019, while protecting farmers, residents and legitimate economic activities.

OYRLEA urged residents and farmers to report suspected breaches of the law through the appropriate channels.

“Residents and farmers are urged to report violations through appropriate channels,” the authority said, assuring members of the public that “all legitimate complaints will be attended to in accordance with the law.”

Aderemi said the authority would continue enforcing the relevant legislation in the interest of residents and farmers.

OYRLEA also appealed to members of the public to cooperate with enforcement agencies by providing information about activities suspected to contravene the state’s open grazing regulations.