The Ondo State Government on Thursday ordered the immediate closure of a cattle market in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Adegboyega Adefarati, who gave the order, also directed the law enforcement officers to arrest anybody or cattle find in the vicinity of the illegal market.
It was gathered that the cattle market was purportedly opened by a faction of Akure Cattles Dealers Association at Uso, in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
At a meeting with the warring factions of the cattle dealers association, the commissioner stated that “it was an affront for anybody or group to set up or establish a market of any sort any where in the state talk more of a cattle market without the prior knowledge and approval of the authority concerned.
“In the case of cattle market or ranch, the Ministry of Agriculture has the sole authority in collaboration with its lands counterpart.”
The commissioner averred that setting up an abattoir or cattle markets or ranch in the state requires some technicalities because of the health and security implications of such actions and not just be done by urchins.
According to him, the state government cannot allow any other agricultural activities at Ogbese and Uso axis already earmarked for large scale farming because of the volatility of the zone.
He was of the view that before now, the Ogbese to Uso axis was notorious for perennial clashes between farmers and herders, stressing that setting up a cattle’s market in a volatile zone would further worsen the security situation in the areas as well as in the state.
On the grievances of the Hausa/Shau cattle dealers’ faction, the commissioner promised that the government will urgently look into it in order to provide enabling environment for cattle business to thrive in the state
