The Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, on Monday signed the “Anti Grazing Bill 2016” prohibiting grazing recently passed by the House of Assembly into law.
The law which limits grazing in the state to certain time was first passed as a bill after suspected Fulani herdsmen killed two persons in Oke Ako community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
Fayose said the new law would ensure security, stating that disobedience would lead to being treated as a terrorist.
He said, “With the signing into law of this bill today, anyone caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism and be made to face the law according to certain sections of it.
“The same goes for those who graze in prohibited areas or go against the time frame of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. allowed for open grazing.”
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kolawole Oluwawole, said grazing must henceforth be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on daily basis.
He also said the government would allot portions of land to each local government area in that regard.
He said, “Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government shall be apprehended and made to face the law.
“Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism.
“Any cattle confiscated shall be taken to government cattle ranch at Erifun and Iworoko Ekiti community in the state.
“Any farm crop destroyed by the activities of any apprehended herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officers and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit.
“Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine.”
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