The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has warned traditional rulers that they will face sanctions if they give land in forest areas to herdsmen.
He said this while addressing community leaders during the flag-off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season at a state-owned rice farm in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area, on Tuesday.
Diri said the state’s anti-grazing law remains in effect and must be enforced to protect farmlands and support food security.
He stressed that herdsmen should not be allowed to settle or graze crops on farms and that traditional leaders have a duty to uphold peace and order in their domains.
He urged communities to report herdsmen incursions and destruction of crops to security agencies rather than posting such issues on social media.
Diri linked the warning to broader efforts by his administration to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production and reduce reliance on outside sources for staple foods.
At the event, Diri directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to increase local rice production, setting a target of 300,000 kilogrammes by the end of 2026.
He also approved a monthly N200 million grant to support farmers, along with the provision of seeds, herbicides and pesticides to boost agricultural output.
The governor said investing in agriculture is a priority for economic diversification and that improved rural infrastructure like roads and bridges will help farmers bring produce to market and strengthen the state’s food systems.
Diri’s warning reflects ongoing efforts by the Bayelsa government to enforce existing laws against open grazing and to protect farms, communities and food production from disruption by roaming cattle and unregulated herdsmen activities.
Critics of open grazing and land allocation to herders say unregulated settlement of pastoralists on farmland has contributed to crop damage, conflict and insecurity in farming regions across Nigeria. Such concerns have led several states to adopt anti-grazing laws to balance farming and herding interests.
