Bayelsa State Government has given Fulani herdsmen umbrella body – the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) – two weeks to move their livestock out of Yenagoa, the state capital, and its environs.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the ultimatum was given by the Bayelsa State Livestock Management Committee.
The Chairman of the 23-man committee and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. David Alagoa, made this known to newsmen on Monday after a meeting between the committee and some South-south chapters of the MACBAN at the ministry.
The commissioner stated that the committee would impound herdsmen cows as the movement by foot either at night or in the day would not be tolerated in the state.
Alagoa stated: “So we have agreed that we give them a moratorium period of 10 days and by the 14th day, which falls on the 10th of April, we will start impounding (cows).
“If you are interested in the cattle business in Bayelsa, the governor has opened up business opportunities of the huge value chain in the meat business. It is time now. If you have land and you want to ranch, you can ranch, since we are going purely for ranching. If you want to plant grass and sell for cattle, you can sell.”