Grazing: FCTA prosecutes 16 herdsmen, impounds 32 cows, 38 sheep in Abuja
NAN-AE-14
Grazing
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on environmental sanitation have impounded 36 cows and 38 sheep, grazing in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Hazat Sule, the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, 16 herdsmen have been arraigned and convicted by the Sanitation Mobile Court in the FCT.
He said that the AEPB and the FCT Task Team on environmental sanitation had commenced arrest and prosecution of herdsmen grazing cattle in the FCT, Abuja.
The minister spokesman said in the seven days exercise so far, 36 cows and 38 sheep have been impounded, while 16 herdsmen have been arraigned and convicted by the Sanitation Mobile Court.
According to him, the AEPB and the task team thus, tendered the impounded cows and sheep as exhibit to secure the conviction of the arrested herdsmen.
“The exercise is sequel to the directive of the FCT Minister, for the AEPB and the Task Team on environment to stop forthwith the grazing of cattle within Abuja metropolis.
“Those arrested have been made to face the consequences of their actions as they have paid various fines to serve as a deterrent to others with strong warning to desist from doing same,’’ he said.
Sule added that the exercise that commenced about seven days ago by the AEPB and the Task Team on the instruction of the minister is a continuous one.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the FCT Minister had on Sept. 19, banned cattle grazing within the territory.
NAN also reports that the minister said that the FCT Administration would continue to collaborate with the Security Agencies to ensure that the ban is made effective while following all due processes. (NAN)
KM/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
===============