Council of Fulani Chiefs of South-West Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to a ban on night grazing, underage grazing, and the carrying of firearms by herders in the region.
The resolution was announced by Mohammed Bambado, Sarki Fulani of Lagos and chairman of the council, during a press briefing. Bambado said the move was aimed at ending recurring herder-farmer clashes and ensuring peaceful coexistence with host communities. He urged security agencies to clamp down on criminal elements fueling the crisis.
“The Council of Fulani Chiefs of Southwest, Nigeria, categorically affirms their commitment towards sustaining the established peaceful coexistence with the host community. Going down 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,” he said.
The council pledged to strengthen its partnership with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) to enhance regional security. It also condemned banditry, kidnapping, farmland destruction, and farmer-herder conflicts linked to members of the Fulani community.
The chiefs called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to prosecute those involved in such crimes, while also outlining new measures to foster peace. These include a sensitisation tour to educate herders on global best practices in livestock management and respect for the law.
The council further urged the inclusion of Kwara State in security coordination efforts, citing its porous borders with Ekiti, Oyo, and Benin Republic. It also called for the revival of nomadic education centres across Fulani settlements, stressing that illiteracy remains a major driver of insecurity.
Additionally, the chiefs announced a forthcoming “Cattle Farmers Data Collection” initiative across the Southwest for documentation and development purposes, and declared a ban on violent Fulani festivals or carnivals that often result in injuries and loss of lives.
“These are mere cultures that do not really align with the current security ties of the country,” the council said.
