Oyo State Cracks Down on Open Grazing, Begins Strict Enforcement of 2019 Law

The Oyo State Government has begun strict enforcement of its anti-open grazing law as part of efforts to curb farmer-herder clashes and protect farmlands from destruction.

The crackdown comes under the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law of 2019, which bans the free movement of livestock across public areas and farmlands in the state. The law mandates that all herders operate only within designated ranches and comply with proper identification and registration guidelines.

In a recent enforcement operation, the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), in collaboration with the Amotekun Corps and other agencies, arrested a herder, Nurudeen Semiu, and nine cows grazing near the Oyo State Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.

Semiu was charged before the Ministry of Environment’s mobile tribunal on a four-count charge. He pleaded guilty to two counts and was fined ₦1.7 million or five years imprisonment, in line with the provisions of the anti-grazing law.

The law stipulates that first-time offenders may face fines of up to ₦500,000 or five years in prison, while repeat violations could lead to penalties of ₦2 million or 10 years imprisonment.

To strengthen enforcement, OYRLEA has set up a dedicated task force and mobile courts for prompt prosecution of offenders. However, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has called for additional support, citing manpower shortages, poor public awareness, and weak reporting channels as key challenges in fully implementing the law.

Ogundoyin emphasized the need for a post-legislative review and urged the government to equip Amotekun and other relevant agencies with the tools required for effective enforcement.

The law is seen as a vital measure to prevent recurring conflicts between farmers and herders, which have led to deaths, kidnappings, and large-scale crop destruction in many rural parts of the state.

With this renewed effort, Oyo joins a growing number of Nigerian states taking firm action to regulate livestock movement and protect local communities.