The council of Fulani chiefs of south-western Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to a ban on night, underage grazing and the wielding of firearms by herders in the region.
The resolution was announced during a press briefing on Sunday by Mohammed Bambado, sarki Fulani of Lagos and chairman of the council.
The council said it is committed to ending herder-farmer clashes and urged security agencies to clamp down on criminal elements responsible for the crisis.
It reaffirmed “an absolute ban on night grazing, underage grazing, and herders carrying firearms and other related dangerous weapons that are not relevant to the profession”.
“The Council of Fulani Chiefs of Southwest, Nigeria, categorically affirms their commitment towards sustaining the established peaceful coexistence with the host community. Going down to memory lane, we have enjoyed over 200 years of cordial Fulani existence in the Southwest. Indeed, we are firm, committed, and determined to pass on the sustained peaceful coexistence that has been maintained to our future generations,” Bambado said.
The council resolved to strengthen its partnership with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) to improve security in the region.
It condemned “in totality any act of banditry, kidnapping, farmland destruction, and any form of farmer-herder conflict that could be linked to the Fulani community,” and urged the office of the national security adviser to identify and prosecute those involved.
As part of its resolutions, the council further announced plans for a sensitisation and engagement tour to educate herders on global best practices in livestock production and respect for the law.
It also called for the inclusion of Kwara state in security coordination efforts, citing its porous borders with Ekiti, Oyo and Benin Republic.
The chiefs urged the revival of nomadic education centres across Fulani settlements, warning that “illiteracy is one of the major causes of insecurity in Northern Nigeria and settlements of Fulani across the Southwest”.
They also announced plans to launch a “Cattle Farmers Data Collection across Southwest” for documentation and development purposes, while announcing a ban on violent Fulani festivals or carnivals that often result in loss of lives and injuries.
“These are mere cultures that do not really align with the current security ties of the country,” the council said.
