South-West Fulani Council Outlaws Night and Underage Grazing to Curb Clashes

The Council of Fulani Chiefs of South-West Nigeria has moved to tighten control over grazing practices, declaring an outright ban on night and underage grazing. The decision, aimed at reducing clashes between farmers and herders, also discourages inter-state migration of herders while reinforcing the region’s commitment to peace and stability.

Source:crisisgroup

Chairman of the Council and Sarki Fulani of Lagos, Mohammed Bambado II, said the resolutions are designed to restore harmony and safeguard the centuries-old relationship between Fulani settlers and indigenous communities in the South-West. He noted that herders carrying firearms or other dangerous weapons would no longer be tolerated, adding that the council is committed to promoting modern grazing patterns that align with current security realities.

For decades, violent clashes, farmland destruction, and kidnappings linked to open grazing have strained relations in the region, prompting state governments to adopt anti-open grazing laws. Bambado stressed that the council is determined to preserve peaceful coexistence while collaborating with regional security outfits, including the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission, to ensure better regulation of herders.

The council also announced plans for a sensitisation campaign to educate herders on modern livestock practices, revive nomadic education centres, and build a comprehensive database of members and their cattle for effective management. By integrating Fulanis from Kwara State into its structure, the council hopes to close security gaps and prevent cross-border tensions that often spill into the South-West.

Condemning banditry, kidnapping, and destruction of farmlands, Bambado called on security agencies to weed out criminal elements within Fulani communities and their local collaborators. He insisted that the new measures mark a decisive step toward fostering peace, order, and sustainable livestock development across the region.