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The Ondo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of a Cattle market purportedly opened by a faction of Akure Cattles Dealers Association at Uso, in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking on Thursday at an interactive meeting with the warring factions of the cattle dealers association in his office, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati who gave the order also directed the law enforcement officers to arrest anybody or cattle found in the vicinity of the illegal market.
Adefarati said it was an affront for anybody or group to set up a market without the 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”, he pointed out.
According to him, setting up an abattoir or cattle’s markets or ranch in the state required some technicalities because of the health and security implications of such actions.
He added that 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.
The commissioner promised that the government would look into the grievances of the Hausa/Shau cattle dealers’ faction in order to provide enabling environment for cattle business to thrive in the state.