Delta State bans night grazing, underage cattle herders in the state

The Delta State Police Command has banned night grazing and underage cattle herders with a view to addressing the security challenge in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Ali, stated this on Friday at a very crucial interactive meeting with farmers/herders in Asaba, the Delta state capital.

He said, “As they suggested here, the statistics of cows that enter the state should be taken and all herders should have an Identity card.

“Underage boys should not be allowed to carry cattle while night grazing is banned completely.

“We will not tolerate anybody bearing AK47 rifles in the name of cattle rearing, herdsmen were not known to carry AK47 rifles.

“They should not be tolerated, because tolerating them means adding to the already tensed security situation in the country.”

Increased kidnappings and insurgent acts in the region have been linked to some criminal herders and has fuelled tension between the herders, farmers and residents of the community.

Proffering a solution to the crisis, CP Ali urged herders that live and stay in the state to be differentiated from herders that come from neighbouring states, advising them to stop taking their cows to people’s farms.

The Police Commissioner said that as much as the cattle are important to the herders, farm products are also important to farmers.