Council Bans Night Grazing, Herders Firearms Possession

• Fulani council enforces ban on night and underage grazing, and use of firearms by herders
• Plans underway for herder education, data collection, and security partnerships
• Council condemns all acts of violence linked to herders and calls for law enforcement action

The Council of Fulani Chiefs in the South-West has enforced widespread ban on open night grazing and usage of firearms.

Eko Hot Blog reports that this is coming as a bid to reaffirmed its commitment to peace and security by upholding a ban on night grazing, grazing by minors, and the use of firearms by herders.

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Speaking during a press conference on Sunday, Alhaji Mohammed Bambado, the Sarki Fulani of Lagos and chairman of the council, said the group remains determined to end clashes between farmers and herders in the region.

Bambado stressed that the council stands fully against activities that fuel insecurity and promised to cooperate with relevant authorities to curb criminal behaviour.

“We completely ban night grazing, underage grazing, and the possession of guns or any harmful weapons not necessary for herding. These acts are unacceptable and must stop,” he stated.

He noted that the Fulani community has coexisted peacefully with host communities in the South-West for over two centuries, and the council is committed to preserving that harmony for future generations.

To support security efforts, the council pledged to strengthen ties with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) and called on security agencies to take decisive action against those disrupting peace.

“We do not support banditry, kidnapping, destruction of farms, or any type of herder-farmer violence, and such behaviour should not be associated with our people,” Bambado added.

Part of the council’s new resolutions includes launching a sensitisation tour to educate herders on modern livestock practices and lawful conduct.

They also called for Kwara State to be included in security coordination due to its borders with Ekiti, Oyo, and the Benin Republic, which they described as porous and vulnerable to criminal activity.

The council further stressed the importance of reviving nomadic education centres in Fulani communities across the South-West, saying that lack of education is a key contributor to insecurity.

“The rise in insecurity in the North and Fulani settlements in the South-West is largely due to illiteracy. We must invest in education to fix this,” the chairman said.

Additionally, a data collection exercise for herders across the region is in the pipeline to aid in planning and development.

The council also declared a ban on violent cultural festivals or carnivals that often lead to bloodshed and unrest.

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