Grazing Reserves: Zamfara Anti-Graft Commission Moves to Prosecute Encroachers
Yusuf Gwandu
The Zamfara State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission (ZACPC) has announced plans to prosecute individuals and groups found occupying or encroaching on designated grazing reserves and livestock corridors across the state.
The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Sanusi Ibrahim Tudu, following the completion of a high-level consultative advocacy tour across relevant institutions.
According to Tudu, the consultations secured broad institutional support from justice, security, administrative and grassroots stakeholders for measures aimed at protecting grazing reserves and livestock routes, locally known as burtali.
He said the engagements also produced commitments on security support, cartographic and survey activities, prosecution of offenders and faith-based sensitisation campaigns across the state.
“With the conclusion of this preparatory phase, the commission is transitioning into the next stage of its operation: the direct execution of the 22-day public sensitisation and compliance drive across the state,” the statement said.
The commission said the forthcoming exercise would involve the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map and establish boundaries, while Integrity Pacts would be implemented across all 14 local government areas and 17 emirates.
It added that legal action would be initiated against persons occupying livestock corridors and grazing reserves without authorisation, pursuant to an anticipated State Executive Order.
The commission consequently warned land speculators and other encroachers to vacate designated grazing reserves and livestock corridors, stressing that full-scale field operations would commence as part of the compliance drive.
