The Ondo State Government has said on Sunday that it would henceforth auction seized cows arrested for destroying farmlands after getting a court order, while the owners of the seized cows would also be prosecuted. The State Commander of the State Security Network, Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who disclosed this during the signing of an agreement for the release of over 250 cows arrested by Amotekun Corps in Akure, the state capital.
According to the Commander, Amotekun has arrested over 250 cows in the state, following distress call and petitions by farmers in Ipogun, Ilara, Owena Dam axis in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.
He said guys of the Amotekun Corps had replied unexpectedly to the distress calls at the same time as the cows were seized after they found the extent of havoc accomplished via the herders and their cows, disclosed that, herders and their cows have destroyed over three hundred hectares of farmland with crops such as cassava, maize, Cocoyam and yam.
Adeleye explained that apart from consuming up the leaves and stems of the plants, the herders, maximum times, uproot cassava, cocoyam and yam tubers to feed their cows and also take to their camps to cook dinner.
“I changed into amazed when I saw the level of destruction and stealing that they did in this modern case.
“When we were given to the farm, the herders started by using attacking us, however later they ran away however we succeeded in arresting of them. They are in our custody. We additionally arrested over 250 cows, which we introduced to our premises right here.
“But to trek for 30 to 40 kilometres on every occasion is not a joke. Not only that we need to trek for this lengthy distance, we have to guide the cows and manipulate traffic at the freeway while leading the cows. So it isn't always a small activity in any respect.
“While doing these types of, we don’t engage in any monetary dialogue with either the farmers or the herders. We don’t accumulate a kobo but we suffer lots in bringing those cows to our premises in imposing this regulation.
“When this modern-day incident came about, we brought them collectively and stated unless they signed an project, that once this operation, Amotekun will no longer allow settlement of farmers henceforth because it seems that it isn't always running.
“We will henceforth rate them to court docket and auction the cow. That is the location of the State Government and the Amotekun Corps from now.
“Any herder that destroyed farmland and plants now, we are not going to open the window of opportunity for negotiation for fee of reimbursement.
“They would be arrested, the herders could be prosecuted, the cows could end up the authorities assets and might be auctioned due to the fact the window of love we confirmed them, they are now not reciprocating by means of complying with the settlement reached with the farmers.
“We felt that herders are transacting their business, which they have right to as a Nigerian. Farmers are similarly transacting their commercial enterprise, a variety of them invested closely on these farms.
“However, herders would come overnight and graze on those farms despite government order banning night time grazing, underage herders and other illegalities.
“Many of the farmers have died of stroke and high blood pressure and a number of them have misplaced their assets because they can't service the loan they took and invested inside the farm.
“All these affect the socio-monetary growth of the South-West mainly Ondo State, we aren't going to tolerate this once more.
“Collecting money and giving to farmers does now not pay. The cash paid to farmers as compensation isn't up to one in step with cent of the crops destroyed,” Adeleye stated.
The Chairman of the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Garba Bello, signed for the herders, at the same time as Mr Odeyemi Joseph and 3 others signed for the farmers,
Speaking at the quick event, Bello confident that the herders might preserve to the agreement, whilst Odeyemi recommended the Amotekun Corps for prompt reaction every time they're known as; and stated the agreement might go an extended way to place an stop to the destruction of farms.
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