South-West Fulani Chiefs Reaffirm Ban on Night Grazing and Firearms Possession by Herders

The council of Fulani chiefs in south-west Nigeria has reaffirmed its ban on night grazing, underage herding, and the possession of firearms by cattle herders. The decision was announced on Sunday by Mohammed Bambado, the Sarki Fulani of Lagos and chairman of the council, during a press briefing.

Bambado said the move is aimed at preventing herder-farmer clashes and ensuring peace across the region. He stressed the council’s resolve to sustain over two centuries of coexistence between Fulani communities and their host populations, while urging security agencies to clamp down on criminal elements who exploit the crisis.

The council also restated its rejection of banditry, kidnapping, farmland destruction, and any form of violence linked to Fulani groups. It called on the office of the national security adviser to track and prosecute offenders.

In a bid to strengthen security, the council said it would partner with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) and pressed for Kwara state to be included in regional coordination efforts, citing its porous borders with Oyo, Ekiti, and neighbouring Benin Republic.

Other resolutions include a sensitisation and engagement tour to educate herders on global livestock practices, the revival of nomadic education centres to combat illiteracy, and the creation of a cattle farmers’ data collection system for documentation and development.

The chiefs also announced a ban on violent Fulani festivals or carnivals, saying such gatherings often result in injuries and deaths and do not align with the country’s security priorities.