Fayose: “Confiscated Cattles will be killed on the spot ‎and shared to people as part of our Stomach Infrastructure programme”

By Idris Olumuyiwa.Gov.  Fayose of Ekiti State has disclosed that confiscated cattle from herdsmen in the state will be shared to the people as part of his stomach infrastructure policy.He said this while inaugurating the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) in Ado-Ekiti. Herdsmen caught grazing cattle beyond 6pm risked a 6 month jail term and having their cattle confiscated, he said.Fayose made it known that it had become important to have the EGEM, as the recent grazing bill passed into law by the State House of Assembly needed enforcement.His words: “We have a right to life and to survive and holding things for our survival especially peasant farmers, whose means of livelihood are taken away by cattle feeding on their crops.”Ž If the gains of peasant farmers are taken away in a jiffy, that is condemnable.”Ž“We will bring to a permanent end to the situation whereby some people take away the means of livelihood of others.“On August 29, 2016, the Anti-Grazing Bill was passed by the House of Assembly and the bill was signed into law by me on August 30.”Ž Some people go as far as grazing in the night when farmers are no longer at their farms.”Ž“Any cattle found grazing after the time stipulated by the law will be confiscated by the government. Such cattle will be sold or killed on the spot ”Žand shared to people as part of our Stomach Infrastructure programme.”Fayose went further to stress that the grazing law was also in the interest of the herdsmen as their activities will be streamlined.“This is not an opportunity to harass or intimidate innocent people. You are to enforce the law and not to break it. Anybody found going beyond his bounds would be dealt with accordingly,” he said.