As  part of the strategies to check the activities of herdsmen in Bayelsa State, the Central Zone of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has inaugurated a surveillance and security committee to protect farmland, communities and indigenes.

The surveillance and security committee comprises youth presidents and clan chairmen of communities across the local governments.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, the Chairman, IYC Central Zone, Mr. Clever Inodu, decried the nefarious activities of some herdsmen, who flouted the state’s anti-open grazing law by carrying out open grazing.

He said there had been killings of their parents and indigenes on their farmlands, hence IYC had resolved to take charge of the communities and farmlands as youth leaders, to forestall future occurrences.

Inodu said: “We are gathered here as Ijaw people, sons and daughters here in Yenagoa, to discuss on the issues that border on Ijaw people with regard to the invasion of our communities and territorial borders by some herdsmen.

“As you are aware, Bayelsa State government enacted the anti-open grazing law, the Livestock Management Committee precisely two years ago.  The law prohibits open grazing in Bayelsa and the state has designated areas for cattle rearing.

“So, the IYC Central Zone under my leadership has inaugurated the surveillance and security committee after having met and discussed with youth presidents of communities and the clan chairmen.

“There have been killings of our parents and indigenes on their farmlands and we have resolved that we have to take charge of our communities and farmlands as youth leaders and youth leadership of our zones and chapters of this territory.”

He said the enforcement team of the committee headed by him was being organised and managed by the IYC to mobilise and carry out surveillance across their communities, farmlands and give information back to the council’s leadership where necessary actions would be taken and legal information would be provided to the appropriate quarters for the needful to be done.

He added: “We have given them the responsibility to mobilise and guard our territories. They are advised not to take the law into their hands, but do the right thing to satisfy the consciousness of the people. A lot of gadgets have been procured to carry out this responsibility. Much information has been gathered.

“Like I said, there is a law and by the grace of God, I am the chairman of the enforcement team. So, the functions of this committee are in consonance with the state’s law. So, once we apprehend any errant herdsman, the team will hand them over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.”