Owners of wandering goats, chickens, cows risk jail in Oyo

• Govt moves against street trading, indiscriminate refuse dumping

By Oluseye Ojo

Owners of goats, chickens, cows, and other animals in Oyo State that are allowed to wander to the extent of destroying farm products and property of other people risk being sentenced to jail.

Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd), the Chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), made the disclosure during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a two-day training on the legal framework and the psychology of law enforcement, themed “Strategies for Effective Compliance,” held in Ibadan on Tuesday.

The programme, organised by OYRLEA in conjunction with BUC Digital Solutions, drew about 100 participants from different agencies of the state government, including the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Environmental Protection and Sanitation, and the Anti-Open Rearing and Open Grazing Prohibition Law enforcement team.

Aderemi stated that some cows grazing openly in front of the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, were arrested recently. The owner was also apprehended. She added that the owner of the cows had to pay a N1.7 million fine or face five years in jail, but he chose to pay the money.

“Sometimes, you may not have that privilege of the Magistrate telling you to go and pay this money or go to jail; it may be a stiff one. You might just be sentenced to jail, so that the next person will know that it is better for them not to commit this offence again.

“Those rearing cows and destroying farm plantations, like cassava, soybean, beans and every other thing. The first thing is that the amount that the magistrate will pronounce may be N500,000, N2 million or more. Then, whatever they have destroyed would be valued and the owner of the cows or goats will have to pay. If it is up to N10 million, he has no option; he has to pay. Payment depends on the value of farm products destroyed by the cows or goats.”

Aderemi also read the riot act to people engaging in street trading, urging them to desist from such acts to avoid facing the full wrath of the law. She explained that for the past three months or thereabouts, OYRLEA has embarked on awareness and sensitisation campaigns to different parts of the state capital to pre-inform the people about the law on street trading. She added that enforcement would start in full scale soon.

The OYRLEA boss also warned people dumping gravel, sand, blocks, iron rods, and so on on the road for construction work that such practice is against the law. She said owners of such property would be arrested and prosecuted as well.

Aderemi also cautioned motorists who have not been obeying traffic rules in the state to turn over a new leaf before it is too late for them.

The agency, she said, has set up a task force, tribunal, and a mobile court with a view to preventing delays in dealing with offenders.

Aderemi continued: “It is time for us to wake up. It is time to keep our environment clean. So, everybody should wake up. Cameras will be installed for monitoring soon. It is time for us to do the right thing. Obey the law. The law is no respecter of anyone.”

On the training for law enforcement officers, Aderemi stated: “We set up the training workshop so that those enforcing the law can go out. It is important for them to be trained for them to know exactly what they are doing.

“Sometimes, you talk about laws, and you want to arrest a person. It is not just for you to arrest all the time. You need to let the people know why you are arresting them. You need to let them know that it is important for them to always obey the law. It is when they know these facts that they will be able to stop all the wrongdoings.”