Oyo State seizes 20 cows for open grazing and crop damage

The Oyo State Government has seized 20 cows in two separate actions in Ibadan. This follows complaints about open grazing, keeping cattle in residential areas, and damage to farm crops.

The operations were done by the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) with help from security forces. They took place within 24 hours at Batake Village along the Ibadan-Eruwa Road and Idi-Iroko in the Moniya area of Ibadan.

OYRLEA released a statement on Thursday saying that nine cows were seized at Batake Village on Wednesday. This happened after Adewolu Farms reported that cattle had repeatedly invaded their farmland.

The farm grows cassava, maize, yam, and cashew. OYRLEA officials and security personnel arrived at the village early in the morning after the complaint. They discovered cattle being kept there.

"Upon seeing the team, the herders tried to move the herd away, but nine cows were successfully seized,” the statement said.

In another operation at Idi-Iroko, Moniya, 11 cows were seized for allegedly grazing openly and being kept in a residential area. This latest action is part of ongoing efforts to tackle open grazing and cattle rearing in Oyo State.

Last month, OYRLEA seized 10 cows in the Arola area of Apete, Ibadan, after residents complained about cattle rearing in a heavily populated neighborhood. The team found evidence that backed up the complaints.

Earlier in July, the authority seized 19 cows in Iseyin after a farmer reported that grazing cattle were damaging farmlands repeatedly.

OYRLEA said these recent actions are part of enforcing the Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law of 2019.

"OYRLEA reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2019, to protect residents, farmers, and lawful economic activities,” the statement concluded.