Oyo Assembly tasks Governor Makinde on open grazing prohibition task force

The Oyo State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to set up Open Grazing Prohibition Task Force, to ensure full implementation of the anti-open hearing and grazing law across the state.

The House noted that all hands must be on deck, at the moment, to ensure that the high rate of killings, kidnappings, banditry, armed robbery, cult clashes and other forms of crimes across the state are addressed and reduced drastically.

This was part of the resolutions of the House, at Tuesday plenary, while deliberating on how to stem the tide of insecurity in the state.

The motion, jointly sponsored by Hon. Babajide Adebayo (Ibadan North 2) and Hon. Kazeem Isiaka (Oyo East/West), noted that insecurity, which has assumed a worrisome dimension across the state, is having its toll on the socio-economic activities of the people.

The House said the issue of herders/ farmers clashes and destruction of farmlands by cattle would only be addressed if the state government commenced full implementation of anti-open hearing and grazing bill already passed into law.

According to the lawmakers, in line with the provision of the law, there is the need for the state government to establish an Open Grazing Prohibition Task Force to implement and ensure full compliance with the law.

The House charged its Committee on Agriculture to liaise with the state government on the process of implementing the law and the level of progress made on the applications of the anti-open hearing and grazing law.

The lawmakers, who took turns to condemn the situation recalled, with bitterness, the lives of promising indigenes of Oyo State who were cut short by the criminals in Ibarapaland and Oke-ogun, as well as other parts of the state, by kidnappers.

In their remarks, Hon. Akeem Adedibu (Iwajowa), Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola (Egbeda) and member representing Ibarapa Central/North State Constituency, Hon. Peter Ojedokun, recounted their close encounters or that of their loved ones with the kidnappers and wondered why it was difficult and virtually impossible for security agents to track down the criminals who collect huge ransom from their victims and even kill them.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Muhammad Fadeyi; the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin and the Minority Leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape, decried a situation where some criminals have taken over the Forest reserves in the state, and called on Amotekun Corps and other security agents to comb all the suspected hideouts of the criminals and other hot spots across the state.

Others, including Hon. Adeola Bamidele (Iseyin/Itesiwaju), Hon. Olamide Olagoke (Ibadan North East 1), Hon. Saminu Gbadamosi (Atisbo/Saki East), Hon. Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi (Ibadan South West 2) and Hon. Mabaje Rasak (Ido), commended the efforts of the Oyo State Governor so far and urged all security agents to work together towards achieving a crime-free society in Oyo State.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, said the House was not against any ethnic group in the state, adding that it was however time for security agents to deal decisively with anyone caught causing breach of peace in any form.

He assured that the legislature would give all necessary support to the state government towards ensuring full implementation of all necessary laws, including the anti-open rearing and grazing law, noting that the use of Open Grazing Prohibition Task Force would help greatly in the implementation of the law.

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