Give herdsmen land, face sanction, Gov Diri warns traditional rulers

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has warned traditional rulers in the state against giving land to herdsmen in the forests, saying anyone caught doing so will be sanctioned.

Speaking during the flag off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season at the state-owned rice farm at Otuasega community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Governor Diri said the warning is in line with the state’s anti-grazing law.

The governor’s spokesman, Mr Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted Diri as saying that herdsmen move with their herds to destroy farms and crops, thereby affecting the increase in production of food in the state.

He said, “On the issue of herdsmen, they do not live on our farms. What is correct is that they move and destroy crops.

“Let me state again that our anti-grazing law is still in force. Contact any security agency in cases of herdsmen destruction, rather than going to social media.

“Let me warn our traditional rulers who give herdsmen land in our forests that anyone caught will be sanctioned. Bayelsa must be safe, and we must all contribute to its safety.

Governor Diri also directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to ensure an increase in the production of made-in-Bayelsa rice by the end of 2026, while also announcing a N200 million monthly support for farmers in the state.

“For our farmers, we will always support you. Honourable Commissioner, identify the true farmers in the state, and what I was doing for MSMEs will also be done for farmers. So, N200 million monthly will now be set aside to support our farmers,” he said.

He urged civil servants and all Bayelsans to be involved in agriculture.

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