Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has warned traditional rulers in the state against allocating land to herdsmen for grazing in forest areas, stressing that anyone found violating the state’s anti-grazing law will face sanctions.
The governor issued the warning during the flag-off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season at the state-owned rice farm in Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area. He said the directive was necessary to protect farmlands and boost food production across the state.
Read also: Bayelsa bans open grazing
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, Diri expressed concern over repeated complaints of herdsmen destroying crops while moving their cattle through farmlands.
He said such activities negatively affect farmers and undermine the state’s efforts to achieve food security.
“Herdsmen do not reside on our farms. They move with their cattle and destroy crops,” the governor said. “Our anti-grazing law is still fully in force. If herdsmen destroy farms, people should report to security agencies instead of taking the matter to social media.”
Diri specifically cautioned traditional rulers against granting forest land to herders, warning that such actions would attract sanctions. He stressed that maintaining peace and safety in Bayelsa was a collective responsibility.
The governor also announced increased support for agriculture, directing the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to scale up production of Bayelsa-grown rice by the end of 2026. He further revealed that the state government would provide a monthly N200 million support fund for genuine farmers.
“For our farmers, we will continue to support you,” Diri said, urging civil servants and residents to actively participate in agricultural activities to strengthen the state’s economy.
