The Chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), Justice Aderonke Aderemi (rtd), said the government has been working diligently to ensure that residents of the state adhere to established regulations, which help them live in a peaceful and safe environment.

Justice Aderonke Aderemi stated that the Authority, established in 2024, was set up to enforce existing laws related to environmental protection, traffic management, and open grazing. She noted that it has achieved a fair level of success in maintaining order and peace within society.

Aderemi, who stated this on Monday during the Omitutun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, said the Authority has addressed thousands of cases related to road traffic management and environmental issues. She also mentioned that it has curbed open grazing in many situations. She clarified that the Authority handles minor crimes and offences, such as enforcing regulations to maintain a clean, safe, and orderly environment, in line with Governor Makinde’s policies, rather than assuming the statutory roles of the High Court and the Ministry of Justice.

The chairperson stated that the authority has established tribunals, which are strategically positioned to prosecute those apprehended. Similarly, counsels are available to defend suspects, who can also apply for bail depending on the severity of the offences committed. She mentioned that offences carry jail sentences and the option of fines for offenders or lawbreakers.

She said: “The authority deals with misdemeanours, that is, simple crimes. The authority does not deal with in-depth crimes, like murder. If anyone commits murder, they will have to be taken to a regular High Court. Ours is to clear the road and deal with simple offences.”

The OYRLEA chairperson stated that since the authority’s establishment, it has taken steps to raise awareness and inform the public about its activities. She noted that the body has appeared on several media programmes and also met with local government chairmen to ensure that grassroots communities are familiar with the new sheriff in town. She also added that the Authority has conducted sensitisation campaigns against street trading at Bodija and Bola Ige International markets, among others.

According to Justice Aderemi (rtd), the OYRLEA set up two tribunals, which have tried 6,000 traffic offences from September 2024 to date, as well as 3,000 environmental offences. She noted that to achieve success, her authority has been collaborating with different MDAs and organisations, including OYMASED, Amotekun Corps, the military, Operation Burst, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Legal Aid Council, among others.

Highlighting some of the successes of the Authority, Justice Aderemi (rtd) said its efforts have helped in curbing open grazing, farmers-herders clashes across many locations, and the removal of shanties around public schools.

She said: “We were able to resolve the farmers-herders’ crisis at Ido. People wrote petitions to us, and we addressed the issue. This is how we handle farmers-herders’ problems; when farmers report to us, our approach is to go there and investigate. We know when the herders will come out with their cows. The law states you must provide evidence. Isn’t that so? So what we do is, even if it is as early as 5 a.m., we go there waiting with the Enforcement Team. Once they come out, we arrest them. We’ll arrest the cows, even if the herders run away. The cows can’t escape that fast. That is what we have been doing.

“Once we arrest the cows and bring them down, the herders will appear and request us to release the cows to them. If they fail to show up, we sell the cows. The law allows us to sell the cows. That is what the law states. After selling the cows, we give the money to the farmers because their farms have been destroyed. That’s what the law says.

“If we arrest the cows and they stay with us for seven days, those cows must then be sold after that period. However, if they are in court, we have to wait because the judge will need to deliver judgment first. Once the judgment is made and the herders refuse to come forward to claim the cows, we will sell them and use the proceeds to pay compensation to the farmers. That is the procedure we are following now.

“I can tell you that many farmers are emerging, as we are handling a lot of petitions. We are going to Ogbomoso, Saki, and Eruwa. We are travelling all over now. Once you tell us, you know I said see it, say it, and we will sort it out. Once we know what is happening anywhere in Oyo State, within our jurisdiction, we are ready to act. We will be there to resolve it. So, people should return to the farms.”

Fielding questions from the media, the OYRLEA boss stated that the authority has ensured strict compliance with the rules, including fundamental human rights and the right to a fair hearing, among others.

She noted that the authority has also participated in training officers from the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYRTMA), the Oyo State Environmental Task Force and the Amotekun Corps. Justice Aderemi (rtd) also said that after the state government demolished shanties built into the fences of schools, some individuals had begun to rebuild those shanties, warning that such people would be dealt with if apprehended.

She said that Amotekun posts would be mounted in some schools to ensure the safety of students and a conducive environment for learning.

Justice Aderemi (rtd) was accompanied to the briefing by the Secretary to the Board, Mrs K.K. Olosho-Olayiwola; Chief of Staff to the Chairperson, Mrs I.E. Akinbode; and Acting Director, Administrative and Supplies, Mr Toyin Aluku, among others.