The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has said that 16 herdsmen, who grazed their cattle in the nation’s capital city, have been prosecuted and convicted by the Sanitation Mobile Court, just as 32 cattle and 38 sheep have been impounded.

In a statement, yesterday, the FCTA Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, said that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, and the FCT Task Team on Environmental Sanitation had commenced arrest and prosecution of herdsmen grazing cattle in Abuja.

He said: “In the seven days exercise so far, 36 cows and 38 sheep have been impounded, while 16 herdsmen have been arraigned and convicted by the Sanitation Mobile Court.

“The AEPB and the Task Team tendered the impounded cows and sheep as exhibit to secure the conviction of the arrested herdsmen.

“The exercise is sequel to the directive of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the FCT Task Team on Environment to stop cattle grazing within Abuja metropolis.

“Those arrested have been made to face the consequences of their actions as they had paid various fines to serve as a deterrent to others with a strong warning to desist from doing same. “The exercise that commenced about seven days ago by the AEPB and the Task Team, on the instruction of the minister, is a continuous one.”

•Text courtesy of Vanguard.

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