Amidst rising cases of insecurity across the country, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has warned traditional rulers in the state against giving land to some suspected criminal elements parading themselves as herdsmen.
Speaking at the state-owned rice farm at Otuasega community in Ogbia Local Government Area on Tuesday during the flag off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season, Governor Diri reminded the general public that the the state’s anti-grazing law is still in full force,
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 the safety”, he declared.
Speaking further, Governor Diri said “On the issue of herdsmen, they do not live in 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”, he added.
In a related development, Diri directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to ensure increased production of made-in-Bayelsa rice by the end of 2026.
The Governor stated that having provided all the necessary support to the ministry and the farmers, he was not satisfied that the state still procured rice from outside during the Yuletide.
He also challenged the Agric Commissioner to ensure food security, noting that the state had comparative advantage in many crop areas and its soil does not require fertiliser to produce organic crops.
He, however, lauded the commissioner and stakeholders in the sector for organising the event and urged the ministry to ensure that it was not just a yearly ritual but one that impacted positively on the lives of Bayelsa people.
According to the governor, agriculture was a veritable source of diversification, which the state government had taken seriously by investing heavily in it.
He urged civil servants and all Bayelsa people. to be involved in agriculture.
Governor Diri also stated that the linkage between road and bridges and agriculture was that the administration was not only connecting rural communities through this infrastructure but equally providing valuable support to the agric sector and making transportation of farm produce from rural areas to the state capital easier.
The Bayelsa helmsman remarked that in furtherance of government’s desire to develop the sector, he has approved a monthly grant of N200 million to farmers in the state.
He also approved a request for a meeting with farmers as well as the provision of farming inputs such as seedlings, herbicide and pesticide to improve production.
On the issue of herdsmen destroying farmlands, Diri cautioned traditional rulers against providing land for herders in the forest, saying anyone found guilty will be sanctioned.
His words: “Let it not be that we come here for a yearly ritual. This is something that affects us as a people and so we must all take it seriously. Food security will continue to be a top priority of my administration.
By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
