Oloyin-in-Council Defends Iyin Goat Policy, Says Move Is About Responsible Animal Ownership

The Oloyin-in-Council of Iyin-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye has defended its policy restricting goats, sheep and other domestic animals from roaming freely within the town, saying the measure was introduced to promote responsible animal ownership, environmental protection and public safety.

The council made its position known in a statement dated September 15, 2026, signed by traditional leaders in Iyin-Ekiti, following what it described as a “gross misrepresentation” of the decision taken by the Oloyin-in-Council and the “Ajo Ilu”, the assembly of the people of Iyin-Ekiti.

According to the council, the policy was introduced about two years ago and has been implemented without controversy until recent discussions began to portray it as a revenue-generating measure.

• The traditional council stressed that the policy does not prevent residents from rearing goats or other domestic animals. Rather, it requires owners and rearers to keep their animals properly enclosed and prevent them from roaming freely around the town.

It explained that the decision was motivated by concerns over the activities of roaming animals, particularly goats, which it said defecate on roads and public spaces, damage plants and gardens, destroy trees planted to beautify the community and create avoidable nuisance.

“The fine is not the policy, compliance is the objective,” the council stated, arguing that when animal owners comply with the regulation, there would be no animals to seize and consequently no fine to pay.

The council also rejected the suggestion that the imposition of fines when animals are seized automatically turns the policy into a revenue-generating scheme. It said penalties are attached to violations of regulations as a means of encouraging compliance.

The traditional institution further linked the policy to previous community decisions taken in Iyin in the interest of public health, safety and communal wellbeing.

It recalled that in the 1970s, following deaths associated with rabies-infected dogs, the community took an extraordinary decision concerning dogs in the town. It also cited an earlier decision that pigs should not be reared in places where owners could not keep them properly enclosed.

The Oloyin-in-Council also referred to the Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State (First Amendment) Law, 2018, No. 1 of 2018, particularly Section 2(1)(a), which prohibits a person from causing or permitting cattle or other ruminants under his control to graze on land that has not been designated by the Governor as a ranch.

The council said the reference to “other ruminants” in the state law demonstrates that the principle of controlling the movement of animals is not limited to cattle.

It maintained that the issue in Iyin is therefore not about stopping residents from keeping goats, but about ensuring that animals under private ownership do not roam freely and impose inconvenience or costs on other members of the community.

“Nobody is saying that people should not rear goats in Iyin,” the council stated. “The issue is whether goat owners should be allowed to externalise the consequences of their animals’ uncontrolled movement onto everyone.”

The council, however, acknowledged that residents could raise legitimate concerns about the manner in which the policy is enforced. It said such concerns could be raised constructively but should be treated separately from questions about the purpose of the policy itself.

According to the traditional council, the broader objective is to maintain a cleaner, safer, more orderly and more beautiful Iyin-Ekiti, while encouraging residents who keep domestic animals to take responsibility for controlling them.

The statement was signed by High Chief Ayodeji Simon Esan, Odofinyin of Iyin-Ekiti; High Chief Bayo Akerele, Petu of Iyin-Ekiti; High Chief Ibikunle Olubobokun, Odofin of Iyin-Ekiti; Mrs Caroline Ajayi, Regent Asinsin of Iyin-Ekiti; and Chief Elejide Omobulejo, Secretary.